Re: pruning Melaleuca?

At 08:36 AM 5/23/01 -0700, Chris in Geraldton wrote:
>Can anyone help me?  I have 2 Malaleuca Nesophilia & my husband is strongly
>against cutting things that are green hence there are huge arguments over
>pruning.  I have had a back injury for some time & could not do it myself.
>I have only just had a 2 level spinal fusion so can not do it myself - I
>finally got him to cut it back sides & top.  I got out next day & despite
>not being allowed to do gardening I cut back what I could reach - virtually
>removed all green to what I could reach & cut away all the dead wood &
>twigs.  I figured the branches I could not reach on top could stay until the
>bottom sprouted. . . .

Chris -

My experience with Melaleuca nesophylla is that they do tend to grow at the 
tips rather than reprouting very strongly from the base.  They will 
resprout if you cut them back low, but you may also get some die off of 
other branches.  These shrubs were commonly used a freeway screens and 
windbreaks in our area and, being very tough and tolerant of adverse 
conditions made good choices.  But they were seldom pruned routinely and 
not expected to become a true trimmed hedge.

My suggestion would be to pinch prune these frequently to help them thicken 
up.  At this point, the upper reaches will probably continue to do the 
growing unless headed back also.  The bark is very attractive, with a 
shreddy peeling texture, so letting that be exposed is not all bad.  If you 
find it does not make a good screen for your purposes, perhaps planting 
something lower in back or in front of these will help fill in.  The 
Melaleucas may provide a more protected niche for something to grow.

Meanwhile, when the Melaleucas get back to growing, frequent pinch or tip 
pruning will help them remain thick instead of the open, irregular habit 
they have naturally.

Regards,
Seán O.


h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara        fax (707) 667-1173     sean.ohara@groupmail.com
710 Jean Street, Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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