Fertilizer For Wax Myrtle
brownthumb65
14 years ago
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duluthinbloomz4
14 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Wax Myrtle Pruning How too & when North Carolina
Comments (3)I expect that the trunks of these wax myrtles are quite large at this point, which puts quite a stress on them when you prune them. However, if they are not like big tree trunks, you can cut them ALL the way back to 6 inch stumps and they will regrow very quickly (in the Spring) with wonderful, new shrubby growth. If you were to cut them just part of the way, you would be sorely disappointed in the results, as they just won't regrow much on that old wood. This type of pruning procedure, by the way, is called 'rejuvenation pruning' and is an accepted and highly successful method of beginning all over again with many species of woody shrubs. Wax myrtle is one of them. Should you decide to do this (and I recommend it highly), you will probably see 4 feet (more?) of brand new growth the very first year. I advise that you maintain your 'new' shrubs by pruning them once or twice a year from then on out, so that you can avoid this BIG procedure in the future. Do this pruning (remember 6 inch stumps....I mean it.) in the late winter, early spring just before the new spring growth is about to occur. And I would not fertilize these shrubs for a year after pruning. If your shrubs are fairly old, you might want to consider the purchase of some nice three gallon plants rather than take a chance of losing them. Wax myrtles can be grown from cuttings made in the spring or early summer. There's quite a bit of information on line about how to take soft-wood or semi-hardwood cuttings from woody plants....See MorePacific Wax Myrtle or other hedge to replace Photinia
Comments (12)Pacific wax myrtle is locally native. You should have no problems with either cold or drought. Yes, Tacoma is colder in winter than Seattle, but that's not saying much, is it. Wax myrtle grows wild in the Aberdeen/Hoquiam/Westport/Long Beach areas and they're all colder than Seattle. They get more rain too, but still get none in summer, and it grows in sandy and rocky soils that do not hold water anyway. Pacific wax myrtle makes a great low maintenance hedge. I am always highly in favor of replacing Photinia because of its disease issues with our wet climate. Won't be a problem with wax myrtle. Ceanothus are too wide growing for your hedge. Oregon grape, Mahonia aquifolium, is another native evergreen shrub to consider, but it doesn't normally grow in quite so much sun, and only about 4-6ft tall. I do see it planted in full sun but it's not its preference. Plus, it's very expensive and slow growing, but it does bloom in March, and people won't push through it because it's so prickly. Incense cedar is a tree. You don't want a tree. You could not keep it trimmed to a hedge. There are also hollies and yews that might do what you want. I see Yew HM Eddie planted as a hedge, but I think it's slow growing and I don't know how tall it's supposed to get, probably not 12ft. I've seen hedges of small-leafed hollies but I don't know what species or cultivars they are - I. meservae maybe, or Blue Boy and Blue Girl. Then there's Portuguese laurel, one of my favorites. Evergreen, wants to be a tree but lots of people keep it trimmed as a hedge. Smaller leaved and less of a monster than its cousin the English laurel, which you do NOT want. I like the purple-red stems of the Port. laurel, contrasting with the very dark green leaves. Full sun, no irrigation. And strawberry bush, Arbutus unedo and Arbutus 'Marina'. Very pretty, cousins of the native madrone, but more hedge like. A. unedo has white flowers in fall and red fruits in spring if winter was kind to the flowers. Red bark, small dark evergreen leaves. A. 'Marina' is more tree like, I don't know about keeping it as a hedge, but it's very pretty and does not get any of the leaf spots that plague both A. unedo and the madrone, although you should have no disease problems with the A. unedo in full sun with no overhead watering. I see hedges of A. unedo all over the place. I had an A. unedo 'Compacta' that got to be easily 6ft tall and wide. I pruned it once a year to keep it in its place. Full sun, no irrigation. Oh, it takes years and years to keep all the plants straight! and there's new ones every year, too. No one ever knows them all, that's why there's so many reference books. People will specialize in one group or another, like Conifers or Natives or Australian plants or Perennials....See Morewax myrtle ... wax
Comments (8)Thanks Susan for the holler ;o). Wax myrtle is Myrica cerifera. I have read articles where the early settlers would use the wax of the berries to make candles and have seen this wax for sale somewhere on the web and it wasn't cheap. I would like to make this wax for my own use and again while I've seen directions for doing so on the web I would like to hear someone say, "Yep I've done this and it works." 'Course at that point I would pick their brains for details and ideas of use ;o) Mike Here is a link that might be useful: Wax myrtle...See MoreHelp, newly planted wax myrtle shrubs showing multiple symptoms!
Comments (22)WOW - your wax myrtles look great!! I’ve sprayed my 10 with a 3 in 1 made by Fertilome which was recommended by the garden center and now I’ll keep an eye on them and see what happens. I bought plants in 3 gallon containers that were about 30 inches tall at the time of planting and they have grown about a foot so far this year. i did do a little pruning earlier in the year to get them to flush out more. We have a seldom used neighborhood park adjacent to our lot and I wanted some kind of natural barrier between it and our backyard just in case it gets more use in the future. I had had some experience with wax myrtles as a privacy hedge at a home in South Carolina so thought they would be the ticket here. The difference there was that they were already established and I never had to be concerned with watering or pests. It‘s been so dry here in Jacksonville that I have had to hand water them a couple of times every week. The irrigation system we inherited is set up for grass, not newly planted shrubbery but that has given me the oppoortunity to closely inspect the plants with each watering, not only the wax myrtles but also the azaleas and camillias that I have planted since we bought this place. Thanks for getting back to me. I’s good to hear that your plants are doing so well and are providing the needed privacy. Take care....See MoreEmbothrium
14 years agobrownthumb65
14 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
14 years agoEmbothrium
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14 years agoschmoo
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