We picked up a Paulownia tomentosa back in 2007 and planted it out in Spring 2008, we have since left it to do as it wishes and grow big, forming a nice canopy. However, we decided that since it had flowered well last year that it needed a prune, Lucien also liked the sound of having the bigger leaves on the tree.
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| Flowering in May 2014 |
When we saw that Lidl were doing there garden offers this week we had a look and found that they were selling extendable pruning shears with an attachable saw. So, it was decided that this was the weekend to get out and prune the tree.
The top branches were a bit challenging to saw because of the tree swaying back and forth with the saw, so Lucien passed the responsibility to James to do the top branches, Sterling work James ;)
Finally we managed, after a lot of hard slog (and all three of us sawing) to get the tree chopped. We decided to go almost all the way to the ground, we know it will grow again pretty quickly.
These are the after shots, without the Paulownia. It definitely looks very strange with it not being there, however it lets a lot more light through to the other plants and we will get used to it soon enough.
The only problem is that the local birds have started to use the canopy and a place to chill out.
As you can see from the pictures above and below, the Paulownia spans quite far...
My job (Laura) was to chop all the branches into small pieces and to organise into waste or burning piles, whilst Lucien and his brother James did the sawing. The branches piled up very quickly.
The top branches were a bit challenging to saw because of the tree swaying back and forth with the saw, so Lucien passed the responsibility to James to do the top branches, Sterling work James ;)
The bamboo, Fargesia scabrida, was proving to be a bit of a problem getting caught in all the branches and in the saw, damaging some of the plant. We managed to find some rope and tied it all together so it was as out of the way as possible.
Finally we managed, after a lot of hard slog (and all three of us sawing) to get the tree chopped. We decided to go almost all the way to the ground, we know it will grow again pretty quickly.
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| More branches, could have done with an extra pair of hands. |
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| The stump that is now left |
The next task is to get the Eucalyptus pruned and chopped, we do however have a man and a chainsaw for that one.. Thank goodness
Laura
