For a while during the real heat of summer my trees slowed up and gave me a rest from pinching and pruning that is so constant during spring and early summer. The weather has started to cool a little and we have had a few light showers of rain. This is the time of year that the Australian natives just love and they have started to grow strongly.

Here are a couple of small banksias that really needed a trim. The first is semi-cascade and was potted into this Pat Kennedy pot in December last year.

Semi-cascade Banksia integrifolia

after trimming long shoots

This one is even smaller at 21 cm tall and has been in this pot for 3 years.

Banksia integrifolia – before

Banksia integrifolia – after

The Japanese maples that I defoliated earlier in summer have also produced a few long shoots. Because these are mature trees they should have been pinched much earlier. Leaving shoots to grow this long can cause the branch they are on to thicken too much so try to pinch mature, well ramified trees when shoots are just a few nodes long.

Japanese maple before trimming

After reducing long shoots.