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California Gardening

Expert for training/pruning pittosporum Silver Sheen?

9 years ago

I just planted 24 young Silver Sheen for creating a hedge/screen, and I'm panicking about making those first cuts. I've scoured the net and found only very general advice so far. So many questions... How soon after planting is it safe to train? Prune before or after fertilizer? Should I rid a competing leader even if im trying to make it more dense? How many inches spring growth needed before pruning? How many inches to take off each branch? Where exactly do I cut? When do new shoots appear after pruning?

I need a Garden Angel! Anyone have any expertise near Pasadena, CA? Recommendations for consultants/gardeners?

Many thanks!

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Comments (5)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
9 years ago
You don't say how tall you intend them to be allowed to grow, but with the possibility of 15 feet ultimate height, I would not be thinking of pruning at all for some time. Al
iamericaru2 thanked calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
9 years ago
Shear lightly very several times a year beginning now. Just 1 or 2 inches at a go. Think light and frequent. Keep an eye on them and when you see several inches of new growth, take off just a bit of it. You want to increase tips to achieve density and it is light tip shearing that does it--it increases branching and density. They do most of their growth in the spring but a little in fall and winter also. Summer they don't do much. Do not worry about leaders, there will be multiple leaders.

Look at the first two photos on this blog post. They are both photos of
'Silver Sheen'. The first is untouched, the second is what regular
shearing does.

look at first two photos, both of 'Silver Sheen'
iamericaru2 thanked hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
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It's not much denser than 'Silver Sheen'. Monrovia is promoting a selection of tenuifolium that gets very dense. They call it 'Tasman Ruffles'. 10' tall. How tall do you need it? 'Marjorie Channon' is decently dense if well watered. This Metrosideros is what I am looking at to be a medium tall (15') dense screen. Here's a mature specimen I found in the area, Metrosideros 'Springfire'. It's dense.
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I understand why the idea would apply in some cases, I just don't think it was needed for this one. I think it would have quickly grown out of the original cut if it had been done correctly. All of the hideous old maples in my 3 acre yard that I've spent over 10k to remove over the past 10 years, were afflicted with these sort of problems. (of course, a couple of them removed themselves, when a split collapsed at the crotch...both times revealing a rotted interior) So, at least you had the presence of mind to deal with the problem now.
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PRO
Howard Barnett dba: Environmental Design Studio
3 years ago
hoovb: I'd like to see that post if it's still available . Mine reached probably over 15' in less than 2 yrs from 5 gal containers in zone: Salinas CA, Monterey County. ( I think it's zone 9 or something, there's no clear map on line as it turns out or info otherwise, unless sub-business card size zone maps are what everyone else is using, and they're all blurry at that - I long for the days of the Sunset Western Garden book, no problem learning my growing zone there. )

Anyway, they were supposed to do "up to 3'/yr" so since they stated out 30" to the tips, I thought in 3 yrs my neighbor's yard would have privacy from my second floor windows. Instead they got to over 12 feet in one year

this is the only photo I can find, Dec 5, I'd planted them Mar. 7

Point is: Now I need to prune, they're encumbering the paths.
lgteacher
3 years ago
It's not as complicated as you think. Follow the advice above and don't overwater.
HU-778704860
2 years ago
iamericaru2

What was the right solution here? Would like to know for my experience. Thanks!

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