Pearcy001 wrote:Hey Grant can you please confirm for me.
Does the chunky rolled bark on a Serrata come from just its age or are branches needed to be grown long and thick to help it?
I am considering chopping down a main leader that does not yet have the rolled bark I desire (when it warms of course), but am unsure if I should wait until that bark forms to do it. ie - will chopping it low slow the rolled bark from forming.
PS: Some will think I'm crazy but I quite liked the red pot haha especially when the foliage was a bit more sparse in August 2012.
Cheers,
Pearcy.
Banksia serrata in the ground and/or quick growing in pots does not form the "Cow Pat" look. It stretches and stays uniformly thick up the trunk for quite a while. It may however get the lumpy rolled effect.
The "Cow Pat" look happens with B serrata when it has been restricted in a pot for a number of years and not repotted or especially well fed etc. It seems to rebel against the restriction and lumps up.
So; what to do? Maybe cut down as you intend but then keep it in a pot for a number of years to encourage the lumping effect.
Grant