Hard pruning

mo's bonsai · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:46 am Post subject: Hard pruning

I have a Stokes Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex Vomitoria). I hope that helps. I want to hard prune the Yaupon but am leery, is it not a good idea to hard prune a Yaupon Holly. The picture below is the Yaupon in question, it is an old picture but only a few changes have been made to the Yaupon. Thanks.

Mo

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/bonsai2008010.jpg

Stymie · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Hard pruning

I know that the question is aimed at Ed. but I'm just sneaking in to say that the hairstyle reminds me of Whoopie Goldberg. I can see an attractive tree there with about half of the existing top.The pot is a bit deep but you know what's in there Mo.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject: Hard pruning

Hey Stymie, don't worry I always welcome others to conversations. after all this is what we're here for. It is hilarious, I do now see the resemblance to Whoopi, the only difference is her hair is probably cleaner. We had a mud rain storm come in and every thing insight was covered in red mud. The car washes made alot of money. I agree with your statement about half of the existing top, my question is if it is OK to prune down so much on a Yaupon. I don't know if it will struggle to back bud and if I do prune back to half the foliage size, there will not be hardly any leaves left because all of the main branches have no foliage on them. How does this compromise the heavy pruning. I had to leave the pot deep because I took it out of the garden center pot about 4 months ago and I didn't think it was ready to go into a shallow pot. I figure in a year or two I will re-pot into a shallow pot. Here are new pictures of the Yaupon, maybe this will give you a better idea of what I'm talking about. Thanks.

Mo

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/bonsai2008034.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/bonsai2008033.jpg

Stymie · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:49 pm Post subject: Re: Hard pruning

I see that within zones from 8 to 10, the Yaupon is used for both hedging and topiary. That, to me, is an indication that it will back-bud when clipped and pruned. Go on then, prune it to shape now, not forgetting to leave some negative spaces for the birds to fly through. It will be fine.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:46 am Post subject: Hard pruning

Your positive response is most reassuring, thank you Stymie.

Mo

TB420 · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: Hard pruning

Yes Mo Don is quite correct. It grown very shrub like and can handle having pretty much anything pruned off that you want.

Yea, I have an Ilex too.

Tom

mo's bonsai · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject: Hard pruning

Tom, do you have your Ilex in ground or in a pot? What style is it ? and is it a Chinese holly or a Yaupon Holly? I have one Chinese and 5 yaupon, only two are in a pot. The others I'm still working on their trunk and root system in over sized pots.

Mo

TB420 · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: Hard pruning

In a pot, formal upright, and I guess a Yaupon holly. Bought it from Dr. Reggie Perdue in Florida advertised as an Ilex vomitoria. I just call it an Ilex.

pics. from last year. Photobucket is acting up for me. Won't let me upload any more pics. Still have plenty of room though. Confused

http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q297/Tbowers420/Ilex%20vomitoria/

Tom