Wednesday 18 May 2011

Stooling

In a shady corner on the left side of the path to the Linbury Building, there once stood a large overgrown group of Mahonia x media. Having received a visit from Ali (nick name 'Radical Ali' when it comes to pruning), the Mahonia have now been reduced significantly in size, although Simon did feel she had been rather 'restrained' on this occasion. There is a horticultural term to this type of pruning, Stooling, to cut back a plant to or near ground level to induce new growth.


Mahonia tend to get leggy and are best stooled after the flowers have faded. Large plants can be stooled to about 45cm and will regenerate well from this form of pruning, producing new growth and, hopefully, be a better shape in future.

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