Re: Pruning Acacia podalyriifolia...

At 01:08 AM 1/8/2002, Krzysztof Kozminski wrote:
>   <snip>  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.  <snip>

Hey Krzysztof -

Nice to see how your property is filling in!

Upon seeing your photos, I now have some comments:

Acacias tend to be a bit on the 'leaning' side regardless - they seldom 
conform to the vertical lolly-pop shape so favored by suburban 
gardeners.  They always tend to have a bit of a wild look about them to my 
mind.  Yours is leaning and can possibly be helped gradually back into a 
more vertical position by some creative tying - the 3 wires into the ground 
type (I can elaborate if you wish).

I would certainly head back each of the branches a bit (only a bit!) after 
flowering.  Acacias also tend to grow a bit more crown then they can hold 
up in garden situations, and a gently heading back periodically is helpful.

I would also encourage you to grow this guy a bit drier - knowing your 
area, having visited your property, and also knowing you are artificially 
irrigating, it is easy for me to see that the plant has grown quickly to 
this size, making the most of this supplemental water.  I planted this same 
tree at a neighbor's house and the foliage crown is very much denser and 
quite beautiful, and the tree is apparently not in danger of leaning or 
flopping, even though it is growing on a slope.

The most beautiful specimen of this tree I ever saw was on the edge of the 
UC Davis Arboretum, growing virtually unirrigated, in full blazing summer 
sun and wind.  Its crown was superbly rounded and compact, the trunk 
straight, and the soft pearl-gray foliage was to stunning!

Regards,
Seán O.

No. Calif. Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society
Seán A. O'Hara - Branch co-chair
(510) 987-0577; fax (707) 667-1173; sean@support.net
710 Jean Street, Oakland, California 94610-1459, U.S.A.
http://www.MediterraneanGardenSociety.org/branches_CANo.html
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