skip to main content

selecting branches for pruning/air layering

12 years ago

Hi all,

I have four very overgrown camellia bushes along the side of my carport. They are easily 10' tall and haven't been pruned in many years, if ever. I would like to start air layering them, and need advice on selecting branches. Do branches on a particular part of the plant respond better to air layering? Any advice on how to air layer several branches and still have an aesthetically pleasing plant when I'm done? I'm hoping to air layer branches as thick as my finger. Are those too big?

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

luis_pr
12 years ago
The only suggestion I have heard of regarding particular parts of the plant that respond better to air layering deals with removing 1.5 to 2 times the diameter of the branch and to do this 1-2 feet of the tip of the limb. So the branches should not be too thick, definitely smaller than my fingers! :o)

You could do air layering on branches that are pointing away from the main/front of the shrub. Most of my camellias are against the house so I would choose branches that point towards the house so their absence (when cut) is not obvious and the plant still looks fine when looked from the front.
Related Professionals
Charlotte Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Portsmouth Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Albuquerque Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Daytona Beach Landscape Contractors · Brunswick Landscape Contractors · Richmond Landscape Contractors · Portsmouth Landscape Contractors · San Luis Obispo Landscape Contractors · Florence Carpenters · Fort Myers Carpenters · Taunton Carpenters · Portsmouth Carpenters · Elmira Carpenters · Monroe Carpenters · Vancouver Carpenters

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Prune Your Flowering Shrubs for the Best Blooms

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Less is often more when it comes to properly pruning flowering shrubs. Here’s what to do and why

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Branches and Berries to Spruce Up Holiday Decor

By Paintbox Garden

Bring garden cuttings in from the cold to warm up seasonal arrangements and decorate your home for the holidays

RUSTIC STYLE Bank on Branches for Beautiful Furniture

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Twigs bundled together or strikingly solo make for elegantly organic furnishings — even as DIY projects

TREES Great Design Plant: Southern Live Oak Offers an Unbeatable Canopy

By Falon Mihalic

Keep it dense or prune it for more light. No matter how you grow Quercus virginiana, it’s a majestic addition to its native landscape

HOLIDAYS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Christmas Tree!

By Mary Jo Bowling

How lovely are your branches? Post a picture and share your stories

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Rockin’ Red Plants for Winter Gardens

By Paintbox Garden

Use the bright berries or branches of these cold-climate favorites for outdoor garden interest or container arrangements anywhere

SPRING GARDENING Spring Gardens Are Waking — Here’s What to Do in March

By Annie Thornton

Excitement fills the air when gardens come back to life. These guides will help you make the most of yours

REMODELING GUIDES Living Roofs Crown Green Design

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Living roofs save energy, improve air, water, curb appeal — and the view from above doesn't hurt either

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Creeping Juniper Holds Its Ground

By Paintbox Garden

Add texture and evergreen interest to a layered garden with this low-maintenance, good-looking ground cover

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS Your March Checklist for a Smooth-Running Home

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your home for spring by shedding its winter layers and bringing in nature and fresh colors

Sponsored

More Discussions

Help for My Camelia

4