Re: Pruning Acacia podalyriifolia...

Thanks to everyone who responded.  I probably should have been a 
bit more specific, hence this followup.

Basically, I'd like to get it back to about the size from the last 
year, and then with some more careful pruning let it grow back to 
this year's size, except this time centered over the trunk.  While 
my preferred approach to pruning is "leave it alone unless there is 
no other choice", this tree seems to require some more active 
maintenance...

Therefore, I was not going to pollard this thing, but rather 
selectively lop off some main branches just past the second or 
third side branch extending from the main branch being chopped off, 
repeating the same idea on the secondary branches as well, and 
shortening the long tertiary branches.  My hope is that the tree 
would put effort into growing these remaining branches and 
hopefully make some new side branches rather than start sprouting 
witches' brooms all over. Google search for "acacia podalyriifolia 
pruning" did not help, hence my question to anyone with experience 
with acacia pruning...

> Joe Seals wrote:
>> 2)  The practice of applying "pruning paint" to cuts
>> was debunked some years ago.

Due to my aforementioned approach to pruning, I was not paying much 
attention to the developments in this area hence the pruning 
sealant question.  I did have in my possession a can of sealing 
gunk once, but it has been accidentally used to paint my lawnmower 
black (by dropping it on a floor, where it met a corner of a sharp 
axe :-), and then I was too cheap to buy it again, and never had 
any problems with dieback anyhow.  But now I am in California, 
where pruning is all the rage (I think I ranted about it already a 
few years ago), so I thought I'd ask.  Thanks for straightening 
this out.

> Jan Smithen wrote
>
>> I think the art of pruning is most basic to the beauty of the garden.
>> Of course, an important step is to start early, before the tree 
>> or shrub
>> has gotten too big and out of hand. So many gardeners wait, and wait,
>> until the tree/shrub shows signs of splitting or breaking, then 
>> call in
>> the local "tree butchers" to top and chop. If they would have watched
>> the plant every year, and taken out growth to lighten and shape every
>> winter, they would have a handsome garden companion to admire as it
>> matures.

With this acacia, it seems that it is very easy to miss the crucial 
two day interval between the "just right" and "too big and leggy" 
sizes :-)  A year ago, it seemed to be almost OK, except slightly 
leaning.  Now it is definitely south-heavy.  These photos are neary 
exactly a year apart:

http://www.kozminski.com/Photos/Acacia/podalyriifolia/2001.JPG
http://www.kozminski.com/Photos/Acacia/podalyriifolia/2002.JPG

On the other hand, maybe it is going to stop this year?  It already 
is about 15' tall.  If there is a chance that it reached its final 
size, I might resume my standard do-nothing approach.

BTW, this is what I planted in October 1998:

http://www.kozminski.com/Photos/Acacia/podalyriifolia/1998.JPG

>> Sorry for the soap-box, but I truly believe, the most beautiful 
>> gardens
>> are created from (sometimes) ordinary plants, well grown and well
>> pruned, rather than vast collections of rare species, that the 
>> gardener
>> has not enough time to care for adequately.

I guess we'll have to disagree on this.  I prefer plants well grown 
and left alone, and tend to go for the wild look.  This is not to 
say that I don't enjoy looking at an artificially reshaped plants 
now and then, as long as they preserve the natural look of the 
plant.  Given a choice of a naturally grown juniper clashing with 
its surroundings, and another one made to look like a poodle, I'll 
take the first one any day :-)

KK

http://www.kozminski.com
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