How To Prune A Wax Myrtle Tree
Remove the lower leaves so that only the topmost one or two pairs of leaves are left.
How to prune a wax myrtle tree. Achieving heights of 15 to 25 feet the plant grows fast in a vaselike or rounded shape. Department of agriculture hardiness zones 7 to 11. Historically leaves of the wax myrtle tree were used for fragrance and flammability when. 1 mix one part of household bleach with three parts of water and soak your pruning equipment in the.
Communis is a bushy medium sized evergreen shrub with small aromatic ovate leaves and profuse white flowers 2cm in width followed by purplish black berries. Some landscape managers hedge the crown into a multi stemmed dome shaped. Removing excess shoot growth two times each year eliminates the tall lanky branches and reduces the tendency for branches to droop. 2 prune or cut back stems or branches selectively in the interior of the canopy making cuts within 1 4 inch of a.
Wax myrtle care tips. After setting your wax myrtle in the planting hole use one hand to hold the plant straight and your other hand to begin back filling your soil mixture around the root ball tamping as you go to remove air pockets. Michael dirr says in his book trees and shrubs that the tree withstands the endless pruning required to keep it in check wax myrtle will need pruning to keep it specimen beautiful. Although it s easiest to train an immature wax myrtle older plants can be shaped to tree form.
Wax myrtle is low maintenance and it can grow in flooding drought and salt conditions. Prepare your myrtle cuttings in spring or at the end of summer on soft wood growth that is wood that is not hard yet nor has grown brown bark but is in the process of hardening. Use pruning shears to cut off unwanted wood. The wax myrtle tree or shrub is often used for a fast growing hedge or privacy screen and may be used singly as an attractive specimen plant in the yard.
Collect myrtle stems that are about 6 inches 15 cm long. Wax myrtle can withstand heavy pruning easily and can grow several feet each year. Wax myrtle care involves fertilization and pruning for shape or pruning when limbs are damaged or split off by heavy ice and snow. Genus myrtus are evergreen shrubs or small trees with aromatic leathery leaves and solitary bowl shaped white flowers followed by fleshy often edible berries details m.