I'm convinced that Ruth Ann has some secret something that she gives her brugs. They are the biggest ones I've ever seen outside of a tropical climate. I was floored the first time I saw a pic of her trees and I do mean trees!
Karyn

To be honest, I am only 4'9" but yes, those were some German babies I had grown form seed the year before and most of them had not been cut back in the fall. They ranged from 10-13 feet tall.

I feel a fertilizing regime is a personal thing where you take into account your growing zone, a seasons climate, your soil type, your wishes/expectations and anything else that may play a role in the growth of your plants.

Personally, here I have tried to amend my soil heavily with mushroom compost leaf mulch and my own compost. My theory is that if the soil around the roots is good you will get good results above the soil as well on your plants. I used to 'push' them hard in the earlier years with fertilizing them 2X/week. Now I give them
a)slow release granular product that is 6-12-6 just away from their root zones when I plant them for the roots to grow out into
b) a good helping of mushroom compost in the planting hole and on the surface as well when planted
c) an application of a balanced fertilizer (with micro nutrients) added either as a foliage or root feed about once a month in the summer, none after the end of August when I need the plants to slow down their production of new green growth.
d) all summer long I spread grass clippings over the Gardens and in the fall they get leaves piled on them to break down over the winter months.

I planted my Brugs out the end of May and two evenings ago they got their first 'additional' feeding for this season.

Thanks for all that info Ruth ann. I am a long way from being at your stage with brugs, but am certainly going to do my best with the one I have. I am amazed at the growth that is happening on it though. I put it in a larger pot after I brought it home and it is getting taller and putting on a lot of new growth along the stem. Since it is not a large plant like yours, and probably won't get to a very large stage by the time that I bring it in for the winter, do I have to cut it back or should I leave it as is and just put it away in a cool place where there is not a lot of light? Do I then just water sparingly? If I do have to cut it off, is it the right time to be rooting the pieces that I cut off?
Lois

Lois, where are you located? I am in Burlington.

Hi Ruth ann, I am in London.....are our zones about the same?

Pretty much I would say, at least within a 1/2 zone or so.
http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/images/cfs11x8E.jpg

Here is a good link for you about over wintering. I do not keep mine growing, I send them into semi dormancy but then I have about 40 and space becomes an issue for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: winter care

Thanks for the link Ruth ann......lots of great information.!

Ruth Ann,
I have a brug that I pruned to be a tree. It didn't Y until it was about 4 feet, so it worked well for that. My question is, if I cut it down to overwinter it, will it be a tree again or could it become a bush (having a low Y)? I really like the tree form and last year I just brought it in the house, but it is a little large. Has anyone had any luck getting them to bloom in the house? Your thoughts are appreciated.
Marcie

I was going to ask a question about pruning the lower branches to make it more tree-like...is this something that is recommended or can I just let the growth along the main stem develop as it wants to? I wondered if pruning off the main stem growth would help it branch at the top faster.

Lois

greylady-gardener,
I think it's a matter of personal choice. I prefer the tree look. However, mine did not Y until about 4 feet,so it didn't have any branches to cut, just leaves. Every once in a while, it starts to put out new leaves along the main stem, but I just cut them off.
This is a pic of mine.
{{gwi:517176}}

Marcie, when you bring yours in for the winter, prune it back but NOT below they Y, rather to 3 leaf nodes above the Y. As long as there is no die back of the upper branches, you should maintain the shape you are wanting.

Lois, when I want a tree shape I remove all the growth on the trunk (except for the growing tips at the top of the stalk).
I do not believe it causes the plant to 'Y' any faster except that I feel it puts all the energy into that one growing place and this may have a bit of influence in the 'Y' only in that way.