Melaleuca - NBPCA

[Craig]

I've done it , the tree is suffering a very sad life at present, no new shoots fron the trunk whatsoever, only sucker shoots, i won't be in a hurry to recomend anyone tries it with a tree like you have here,..

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Decided to do a test on a portion of a Mel rhaphiophylla in a group that was going to be removed anyhow.

Here is the photo today and it was trimmed back about a week ago.

IMG_4686 - Copy.JPG

Here is a thinner piece cut back about 2 weeks ago and budding nicely behind existing growth.

IMG_4690.JPG

IMG_4690 (2).JPG

PS. It is still cool here. No hot weather yet but lots of rain.

Grant

[Pup]

Some of my rhaphiopgylla's have gone berserk some are sulking as with all, the natives.

We have had a very unseasonal burst of rain, so I think they will take off like Bondi trams very soon.

Regards Pup

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

We have had a very cool summer here so far but the single Mel rhaph has responded very well after the hard prune with lots of growth every where; but no budding back in older areas yet. (We doubled the fertiliser rate this year)

Mel Rhaph DO after hard prune.JPG

Very interesting results on the group of Mels however.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Where we cut back very hard on the old apex it budded back freely on the younger or damaged/previous branch collar but not on older wood.

Old apex resprouting on young wood or damaged area.JPG

Interestingly it did so even with a young live apex above it

Old apex with still live apex behind.JPG

I took the opportunity to trim back totally a very young sprout and it budded back all over pretty evenly.

Young tree cut back to no foliage at all now resprouting.JPG

One young tree that was cut back hard but not all foliage removed also budded back on the lowest and weakest part

Young tree not cut back very hard but sprouting on youn area.JPG

Close up.JPG

Grant

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Pups Mel R has responded very well this year to the extra fertilizer and the hard trim; despite the very cool temps for Canberra all summer and spring.

Trimming back new growth after hard prune.JPG

We are doing a trim today and it will probably get a few more light trims before it stops growing for the year.

Grant