Bird of Paradise - how to cut back/thin

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Pleinair22 Venice, CA Sep 30, 2007

I am trying to cut back this bird of paradise to make it smaller. It has taken over a section.
The root system seems to be about 14" ABOVE the ground level and the leaves are starting above that.
How do I get it back down INTO the garden bed.

Thank you. Karen

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Sep 30, 2007

Your B of P sounds really in need of splitting up and replanting, these are tough plants once established in the right situation and temp, what you need to do is, try to dig as much of the plant out of the ground as possible, it has very tough fleshy roots so you may have to get help and also a good sharp spade to help split the root ball up, as you said half the plant roots are already out of the ground and above the surface of the soil, so you should see where to chop with the spade, you need to be careful to make sure as you lift the sections of plant out, that you have some roots still attached to the pieces you are splitting up, once out the ground, trance-plant into new planting holes or into large pots if you are giving them away, add lots of new compost around the bits of old plant if you are leaving some in situ, and also add new compost/manure to the new holes where you move the other bits to, these plants will be set into the soil deep enough to to just cover the roots and the bottom of the growing tips, give plenty water once the growing season start, say about April and a good liquid feed every second week to help promote good strong flowers and foliage if in pots and just enough water to stop the soil drying out in winter, in the garden I would still give the feed till the new plants become well established. good luck. WeeNel.

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Oct 01, 2007

Mate ....make sure you eat your spinach before you do....they are very very difficult to divide.....try and get some manpower to do the job.....good luck ....:)

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Oct 04, 2007

Hi Chrissy, good to hear from you again, will be in touch by dmail hope your well. Weenel.

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