Hi, everyone I'd like to start out by saying I love this forum and I've been a visitor here for about a year when looking for answers to questions. I received this plant from my neighbor can anyone please help me identify it? Also my yard is surrounded by spruce/pine (not sure which) they're cut to roughly 6' height. They are quite overgrown and crowding things. Trimming is becoming difficult and laborious. Is it possible for me to take a chainsaw and completey cut all the branches to the trunk? Will the trees die? Will they regrow branches over time so I can keep them nicely trimmed? Lastly I have a few maple trees in my yard.(at least I think they are a maple) Can anyone direct me to a very helpful tool or website to identify the type?
I am sure several people will weigh in here with websites and books to consult, but here is a good maple site, although it is Ontario -- for a beginner, to start with on maples: http://ontariotrees.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=134 Pine has really long needles, usually about 2 inches long, while fir and spruce have short needles; here's another website making things easier: http://gardenline.usask.ca/trees/firpine.html Just Googling "maple identification Canada" or even leaving out the Canada, should bring up lots of places to find information. I don't think your evergreen trees will sprout new branches when cut off the trunk, called "limbing them up" -- people around my neighbourhood do that to clear the decks so they get more light into their gardens, because in my suburb we aren't allowed to cut down certain native conifers. You'll see fir trees trimmed at the trunk, sticking up high in the air, with a topknot on top. Looks strange -- ok if not too much "limbing" is done. It sounds as if you have "topped" the trees at the top, to limit size. That is considered a no-no by tree experts. I am not sure of all the reasons, but weakening of the tree -- what really happens with topping I am not sure. I think some people have done it successfully with certain conifers to create a hedge, of a rough sort, maybe with spruce... really, that kind of tree does not successfully take to control in the way you speak -- they can be pruned to be more shapely, but they insist on growing. Better to keep them as shapely as you can and thinned out a bit, perhaps limbing-up a bit, but it is like trying to keep a Labrador dog quiet and peaceful until he's old -- impossible.
Thank you for your suggestions! I never cut the tops off, nor planted any of these trees. It was the owner before me. They are basically functioning as a hedge as you guessed. Yes I believe they are spruce. There is also lots of brown and they are very dense, making trimming as I said difficult and laborious. Maintaining them are quite easy when cutting to a certain length is repeated yearly. But when desired to take em back something drastic like a foot its a whole new story hehe. Any suggestions on the houseplant? :p
I'm not knowledgeable about houseplants! Would it fall into this category? -- http://images.google.ca/images?hl=e...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCwQsAQwAw Don't know what to suggest re the messy row of trees -- taking out the brown ones and putting in other items, suitable for your climate... better consult some Alberta nurseries on that one!
the leaves look like a ponytail palm, and the stalk looks like yuca, interesting... i don't know what it is... :)
Hi Jezter, you may find the General Maple Discussion Forums here useful www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9
If they are pine they won't break out new growth from the old wood is my understanding. A close up photo should help to identify. To attach images this will help www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=60953
Re: Plant picture, pine trimming, Maple Identifaction?(re posted) Your plant looks Dracaena-ish to me. Judging by the stump from which the new growth has sprouted,, this must have been one gigantic plant before it was cut back!
Re: Plant picture, pine trimming, Maple Identifaction?(re posted) My GF's parents received a second one like mine from the same neighbour. Well actually they gave them two and one was then given to me. Its cut the same way.
Re: Plant picture, pine trimming, Maple Identifaction?(re posted) The plant looks like Beaucarnea recurvata, Ponytail. It may have been topped and what we're seeing is the regrowth. It's unusual not to see a bulbous base but I'm guessing it has been planted deeper than usual.
