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#1
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Mesquite Trees
Hi,
I have a few mesquite trees in 8" pots that I started from seed last year. I know that's unusual, but it's a small way to have a little bit of the southwest here in Boston. They are now a year old, and about 1.3 feet tall. Here's my question. Each has five or six branches emanating from the central stem, and they are a little rangy. If I were to cut the branches back maybe halfway on each, would the trees be likely to become bushier, or would it be harmful to them? Is there such a thing as bonsai mesquite? (Only half joking.) If pruning or cutting back is good, is this, just before what I would guess might be a dormant period, the right time to do so? Thanks for any thoughts on this, Ed |
#2
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On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 17:13:50 GMT, Ed Dente opined:
Hi, I have a few mesquite trees in 8" pots that I started from seed last year. I know that's unusual, but it's a small way to have a little bit of the southwest here in Boston. They are now a year old, and about 1.3 feet tall. Here's my question. Each has five or six branches emanating from the central stem, and they are a little rangy. If I were to cut the branches back maybe halfway on each, would the trees be likely to become bushier, or would it be harmful to them? Is there such a thing as bonsai mesquite? (Only half joking.) If pruning or cutting back is good, is this, just before what I would guess might be a dormant period, the right time to do so? Thanks for any thoughts on this, Ed Well, mesquite are usually multi-trunked and I have them coming up all over my yard from seed. The one I have is very old and it makes a ton of seed pods. I allowed one of the saplings to live and in one year it great almost 8 feet. However, it does have multi-trunks. At first, the foliage reached the bottom of the plant, but as it ages it "cleans" itself and takes on more of a tree form. You may have something there about bonsai, but you may have to do some research on that. I have had a whole side of a mesquite tear off from a storm and within a few weeks branches were growing up where the trunk ripped off. So, I would say before it breaks in spring, give it a try. I think if you provide adequate full sun and as much heat as possible by allowing them to grow in front of a south facing wall where it gets hot, the trees will get bushier on their own. Victoria Need a good, cheap, knowledge expanding present for yourself or a friend? http://www.animaux.net/stern/present.html |
#3
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Thanks for the info.
Ed escapee wrote: : On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 17:13:50 GMT, Ed Dente opined: :Hi, :I have a few mesquite trees in 8" pots that I started from seed last year. I know that's :unusual, but it's a small way to have a little bit of the southwest here in Boston. :They are now a year old, and about 1.3 feet tall. :Here's my question. Each has five or six branches emanating from the central stem, and :they are a little rangy. If I were to cut the branches back maybe halfway on each, would :the trees be likely to become bushier, or would it be harmful to them? :Is there such a thing as bonsai mesquite? (Only half joking.) :If pruning or cutting back is good, is this, just before what I would guess might be a :dormant period, the right time to do so? :Thanks for any thoughts on this, :Ed : Well, mesquite are usually multi-trunked and I have them coming up all over my : yard from seed. The one I have is very old and it makes a ton of seed pods. I : allowed one of the saplings to live and in one year it great almost 8 feet. : However, it does have multi-trunks. At first, the foliage reached the bottom of : the plant, but as it ages it "cleans" itself and takes on more of a tree form. : You may have something there about bonsai, but you may have to do some research : on that. : I have had a whole side of a mesquite tear off from a storm and within a few : weeks branches were growing up where the trunk ripped off. So, I would say : before it breaks in spring, give it a try. I think if you provide adequate full : sun and as much heat as possible by allowing them to grow in front of a south : facing wall where it gets hot, the trees will get bushier on their own. : Victoria |
#4
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Ed Dente wrote in
: Hi, I have a few mesquite trees in 8" pots that I started from seed last year. I know that's unusual, but it's a small way to have a little bit of the southwest here in Boston. They are now a year old, and about 1.3 feet tall. Here's my question. Each has five or six branches emanating from the central stem, and they are a little rangy. If I were to cut the branches back maybe halfway on each, would the trees be likely to become bushier, or would it be harmful to them? Is there such a thing as bonsai mesquite? (Only half joking.) If pruning or cutting back is good, is this, just before what I would guess might be a dormant period, the right time to do so? Thanks for any thoughts on this, Ed When they get bigger use the wood for BBQ. |
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