I am wondering if I should leave these extra branches on the bottom of my brug or should they be removed. Also if I remove them can I try to root them? Do I need to do anything to the main plant after I remove the branches? Here is a picture of what I am asking about.
These are suckers. you can root them, but they are slower to bloom. If you want your brug to be a "standard", (grow like a tree), you might cut them off. JMHO, Melba
It depends on the look you want, Mary. I do not know how tall your plant is, but if you want the tree look, take them off. If you want the bush look, keep them on.
If you take them off, I would root them them if you want a few more plants of this one. Some people find it easier to root ones from older wood instead of the real green ones. But at this time of year, I bet you have good luck with them all. Just do not over water.
If the hole left on the trunk is bigger than a quarter, I use a sealer on the trunk. You can buy some in nurseries. I prefer not to use the tar ones for they stain your trunk and make it look terrible.
That's all you have to do to get a tree??? I'm going to have to start chopping away on mine!
Look who is back! (Ha ha, play on words!). I have not seen you in forever!
I like to cut them off and root them. They can be traded, given away or kept for back up in case you murder the mama. :)
Last year I took them all off. A couple I left on and easily rooted in the fall to hold over as back-ups. This year, I've decided to leave all of them alone and let them grow the way nature intended. Of course I say that now... The ones along the drive and front walk will probably stay trimmed to look like trees, though.
Bambi, LOL, you have to also have a plant that has the genes to be a tree!! I have a huge BF bush at a friends. It is huge. It is all over. All the limbs go every which way. The original cutting was from above the Y. No way that was ever going to be a tree. Then it put out a sucker that is so tall and straight. Must be 8 ft tall. A perfect standard. I left it on the huge bush to grow, grow, grow. I will take it off this week and root it. It will be the perfect standard.
Gretchen, I can't wait to see your blooms this year. You had so many great threads last year. I love great picture shows!!
Marylin, I have had wonderful luck with cutting the suckers off to make back up plants incase I lose the mother... BUT, I wait till there is more size to the sucker and the base of it looks woody..only because they root better than real green soft cuttings. I rarely lose a woody cutting but, the green ones are another thing. What ever you do good luck and happy bruging.
I think for now I am going to leave the plant as is. I like the fuller look rather than having the bare stalk. Thanks for all of the answers to my question.
Question: My neighbor, who can grow blossoms on a brick, says that spray paint can be used on spots or wounds where limbs have been removed. We tried it on a Mulberry tree and it worked. I wonder if it will do on brugs. Anyone know??
Some paints work others may cause a problem...so if it is a brug that you really love best buy wound heal many garden shops have it or something like it.
Sherry -- I was taught by a professional arborist that you can use any spray latex paint to seal a tree wound. I personally do not spend the extra $$ for "wound heal". JMHO
Gretchen, that was the exact answer I was seeking - years ago, a very knowledgeable gentleman, Lee Reeves, the only 'certified' tree surgeon in Arky, at the time, told me the very same thing. I knew it was 'regular' paint but I didn't know if it was oil based or latex. Thank you so much, Gretchen!!! How large would a wound have to be to require the sealer?? Larger than a snipper cut, I would think, or should it be sealed when we make snipper cuts??
