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neilcuk

Katsura help

10 years ago

Hi i have been given a katsura from an elderly neighbour. It is potted at the moment but i do intend to ground plant. In its pot it is standing around 6' tall. The bottom most side branches are very long and gangly to the point of weeping and touching the ground my question is do i prune these out to get a more upward growth or leave them to do their own thing? Having never had a katsura it was my understanding they were more upright than weeping? Any advice would be much appreciated. Tia

Comments (10)

  • 10 years ago

    I will get a photo when i get home later on and figure how to post it ! It does look like katsura by leaf structure and colouring but im no expert. I will get photo up as soon as i can. Thanks

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    How big is the pot? Can you also slip it out of the pot and get a pic of the roots?

    I got my Katsura as a 2 year old tree and kept it in a pot for 2 years and it's been in the ground for 3 years and it is only about 4-5 feet tall. If it is 6 feet tall and still in a pot it is most likely serverely root bound. Off the top of my head I would say to pull it out of its pot, trim off any large girdled roots and pot it up in a bigger pot (if you want to keep it in a pot) or plant it in the ground.

    Don't do any of this until you post the post the pics though!

    The potting mix could be too moisture retentive, or you could be overwatering. My JMs LOVE their gritty mix!

    neilcuk thanked mblan13
  • 10 years ago

    ok hopefully I've worked out how to put photos on. I've taken a couple of close ups, couple showing full tree and lower side branches i was referring to in earlier post and one showing roots when I've lifted tree out of pot. I want to move the tree from pot to garden but as said I've done nothing with it yet.

  • 10 years ago

    The pot is too small and the branches are very long and skinny. They are probably drooping from the weight. I'd get it in the ground as soon as is convenient. I'd probably prune some of the droopy lower branches back or completely off. I like to see some trunk at the bottom on mine.

    neilcuk thanked mblan13
  • 10 years ago

    Thanks for the advice. What would cause the branches to be long and skinny, the size of pot, to much water? I've not had any experience with katsura only what I've read up, so was unsure what to do with those lower branches, whether to cut them back or stake them up

  • 10 years ago

    Young JM's often produce long whippy branches. You can either head them back to a more reasonable length, remove the lower ones altogether or ignore them. Generally, the other growth will catch up in a season or two and they will lose their "whippiness" as they age and will stiffen up.

    If you decide to remove branches or head back, be sure not to remove any more than one third of the total leaf coverage.


    neilcuk thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 10 years ago

    I'm hoping to get in the ground this evening, I'm thinking more on leaving the branches as I prefer not to cut back or prune unless absolutely necessary. Thanks for advice now I have something to ponder all day

  • 10 years ago

    It certainly is gorgeous! You're very lucky.


  • 10 years ago

    You can YouTube for pruning help. Essence of the Tree has great resources plus you'll enjoy looking at their catalog.

    neilcuk thanked Gibson Zone 9 (Central Valley, CA)
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