Q. Just wondering if and when I should prune my Tecoma
“Yellow Bells”.
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| Yellow Bells Tecoma stans |
A. Yellow Bells or Tecoma stans can be pruned lightly any
time of the year but it’s best to reserve heavy pruning cuts to the winter
months. It’s difficult to kill this plant by pruning.
time of the year but it’s best to reserve heavy pruning cuts to the winter
months. It’s difficult to kill this plant by pruning.
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| Tecoma stans used in desert landscaping at Ethel M’s in Henderson Nevada |
If this plant is getting too large for the area given it,
you can cut it close to the ground and it will sucker from the base much like
oleander and Lantana. It responds to this type of pruning similarly to oleander
because of its size.
you can cut it close to the ground and it will sucker from the base much like
oleander and Lantana. It responds to this type of pruning similarly to oleander
because of its size.
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| Oleander winter pruned to remove old growth and renew the shrub to its former youth |
To flower, the parts growing above ground must come back
into “balance” with its roots. So, it is likely to grow rapidly without
flowering until it reaches the “magic ratio” of shoots to roots when it will
start flowering again. This is probably when it reaches about 3 feet in height.
into “balance” with its roots. So, it is likely to grow rapidly without
flowering until it reaches the “magic ratio” of shoots to roots when it will
start flowering again. This is probably when it reaches about 3 feet in height.
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| Winter pruning of lantana for renewing growth. Actually it could be cut back more than this and it would be better. |
Yellow bells can be pruned in other ways. If the plant is
getting too tall, reduce its height by cutting the tallest branches back to a
crotch or the ground.
getting too tall, reduce its height by cutting the tallest branches back to a
crotch or the ground.
If you want it taller
and expose the bottom stems or trunks, then reduce the number of trunks or
stems to 7 or less, trying to keep an odd number. Cut the smallest stems just
below ground and remove side branches from the remaining to about knee height.