Laburnum is generally very easy to care for. For all the decorative grace it offers the gardener, it is pleasantly undemanding. When it comes to cutting, however, it is a bit more complicated. We show you what you have to consider.
It is better not to cut back the laburnum
Basic properties of laburnum
With just about anything that garden plants can demand special attention and skill from the gardener in general, laburnum is pretty straightforward. It makes just as few demands on the location as it does on watering or growth aids in the form of fertilizer. It is also largely robust against diseases and pests. He is therefore one of those fellows in the garden who can largely take care of themselves and hardly need the support of their cultivator.
These vegetative properties
- undemanding in terms of location
- no special watering requirement
- no need for fertilizer
- robust against diseases and pests
show the self-sufficiency of the laburnum - which should be addressed when cultivating.
Be thrifty with cuts
So actually synonymous with the cut. Basically, the laburnum hardly needs any intervention in its growth - but above all it does not want it. He prefers to develop without any disturbing pruning. Usually they are not even necessary, since the laburnum has a fairly compact growth and does not overflow with its crown. It is therefore generally advisable to let it develop as naturally as possible.
When you set it, think about the place it will take up - a laburnum will grow up to about 7 meters high and its crown no more than twice as wide.
Sensitive cutting twist
Laburnum also shows that it does not like to be cut back by the fact that it does not easily heal cuts. If larger branches are removed, the cut surface can definitely start to rot and clog the plant.
Only cut younger specimens
Basically, the rule of thumb applies: only younger laburnums should be shortened from time to time if desired for optically and vegetatively more favorable branching. If the shrub is older, you should avoid it. A pruning does not produce any more luxuriant flowers - these are usually still very generous even in old age.
In addition, only thin branches up to 2 cm thick should be removed and only when it really makes sense - that is, when the branches are dead and need to be cleared out. This can certainly strengthen the laburnum and help regain more vitality and flowering joy.
Pruning for diseases and pests
If the laburnum, despite its robustness, is seriously afflicted by a fungal disease such as galena or a massive aphid or spider mite infestation, it may be necessary to cut away the affected parts of the plant. Fighting with fungicides or natural pest controllers (beneficial insects) should always be the first choice.
You should make the cuts as cleanly as possible with a knife that has to be cleaned from time to time and seal the cut surfaces well. So you help the laburnum to twist them without rotting and overgrow with bark again.