Hi Sonorablu, Your agave is the Agave americana, often called the Century Plant and a stunning example of a widely diverse group of succulents. They require deep, infrequent watering (so that the moisture soaks down at least two feet) once every three to four weeks in the summer and not at all in the winter. If you are using a spray head to water this plant, switch to a drip emitter so the water does't fall on the leaves. You may need to run your drip system for several hours to push the moisture down that far into the ground. Although these plants normally live a long time, in southern Arizona they are very vulnerable to damage from the agave snout weevil. This beetle lays its eggs in the maturing plant, usually 1-2 years before it's due to bloom. The larvae munch on the tissues introducing a bacteria which causes collapse and rotting of the plant. Pups aren't usually affected. Your yucca (it looks like Yucca elata or Soaptree Yucca) will live to bloom again. The flowers are pollinated by the yucca moth, who hides in the flower during the day, emerging at dusk to pollinate the flowers which bloom at night. The flowers are edible. The roots of this plant were used by native people to make a frothy soap. Be sure to leave the dry lower leaves on the stalk as they protect the plant from heat and cold. Try and resist the urge to prune your citrus. They are really large shrubs and do best if the canopy is allowed to grow nearly to the ground. Citrus are extremely vulnerable to sunburn. If you must prune, do so carefully, always removing a branch where it intersects with another branch or stem. Do not use sealants on the pruning cut - allow the wound to remain open to the air. Don't prune in the fall as branches left on the tree will protect it from winter cold. The best time to prune is in March. I've included a link to the U of A website in Maricopa County. They have a wealth of information that should work in La Paz County as well. I hope this helps. aztreelvr Certified Arborist Master Gardener Here is a link that might be useful: U of A Publications on citrus and more

Now that you know you are not going to kill it, back to the question of what will it look like cut off? The pups growing on the base of the old stem will grow and fill out and in a year or two and cover the stub. If it were mine I think I would consider removing the pups from the stem and planting them in pots to grow on. After 6 or 7 years the soil in the old pot must be in such a poor condition only a yucca could survive in it. I would discard the old plant and the soil and start over with new soil formulated for long life. If you want the best architectural looking plant just plant one of the old pups in the rejuvenated container. I prefer the look of a healthy new plant over an old revived one. Al

Yep, HP has good phone support. I called one nite about 11pm my time Eastern and they spent time with me trouble shooting a brand new printer that didnt work from the get go. Told me I'd have to send it back to them though for repair. I said I just bought it two or three hours ago... I'll take it back in the morning and try another one. Girl said I couldnt do that because I had already registered it. But I did return it first thing in the morning.

i hope you read that link i gave .. lol ... yucca are exotic in the north.. as we all.. at one time or another.. like the desert look of plants where the snow flies ... we can pretend we live in TX or AZ ... etc ... also.. they are cheap.. and near bullet proof and care free ... so exotic ... that is why they are seen everywhere .. though they arent noticed until the send up that spike of flowers ... many of my first books were by world champion British gardeners ... guess what.. MI is not great britian ... unless a book is written by your neighbor ... you have to take what you read.. with some about of skepticism ... as such.. as noted above.. i highly wonder what this author is talking about ... in regard to this plant ... as it might take you a number of years to kill these things.. i dont know why you insist on waiting until spring .. they are probably storing energy now.. to start growing in spring.. so why let them ... but.. you do what you need to do.. when you have time for it... or when you want to ... because.. after all.. its your garden ... ken