- Grow a sleeping tree as a tree or shrub?
- The right time to cut the silk acacia
- How do you properly prune the silk tree?
- Heavy pruning when the sleeping tree has fallen off
- Limit growth by pruning
Basically, you do not have to cut the sleeping tree or silk tree at all. Most silk acacias develop a very nice, even crown on their own. A pruning is particularly important if you want certain designs or want to keep the sleeping tree in shape.
The silk tree can be pruned as a tree or shrub
Grow a sleeping tree as a tree or shrub?
The important question is whether you want to grow the sleeping tree as a shrub or tree.
If a tree is to grow, do not cut the silk tree at all at first. When tending as a shrub, you must cut the top of the main shoot so that many side shoots develop.
- Cut the sleeping tree into shape
- Cut shoot tips for better branching
- remove old and diseased branches
- pruning in case of vergellung
The right time to cut the silk acacia
Prune the sleeping tree in spring, preferably in May. A silk acacia tolerates pruning well. However, no more frosts should be expected, because the sleeping tree will not cope with the pruning so well.
How do you properly prune the silk tree?
When designing the sleeping tree as a tree, you only cut off annoying side shoots in the first few years. You only have to cut the crown into shape if individual branches disturb the overall picture.
If the sleeping tree is grown in the form of a bush, regularly cut off the tips of the branches. As a result, the shrub branches better and appears more compact. Weak and thin shoots should also be cut. They unnecessarily weaken the Silk Acacia.
It is cut with clean and sharp pruning shears. The incision is always made directly above one eye.
Heavy pruning when the sleeping tree has fallen off
If the shoots of the sleeping tree are very wilted or no more new shoots form below, you can also cut the silk tree back to half its height.
Limit growth by pruning
The sleeping tree is quite fast-growing in a favorable location. If you don't want it to grow that tall, cut it back annually.
If you care for the silk acacia in the bucket, you can shorten the roots a little when repotting. Then the sleep tree grows a little slower.
tips
The sleeping tree can also be well maintained as a bonsai. It tolerates pruning well and can be drawn in different shapes. Cut back after flowering or in late summer.