Author |
Message |
barb Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 17 Feb 2010 Posts: 17 Location: kilkenny
|
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:32 pm Post subject: Phormium and Cordyline |
|
|
Hi
I am a new gardener and have just moved to kilkenny, the garden has a number of cordylines and a very large phormium tenax, however after the snow and cold spell all are severely damaged.
Should I dig them out or just cut off all damaged foliage or are they likely to recover ? The Phomium is actually now completely flat on the grass!
In anticiation...many thanks |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
sal Rank attained: Sessile Oak Tree

Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 286 Location: kerry
|
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
dont know the answer to your prblem but hello and welcome ,i`m sure some one here will know what the answer is,very knowledgable bunch here backing up complete novices like me  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Sarah Evans Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree

Joined: 04 Oct 2008 Posts: 84 Location: Cork, Ireland
|
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The words of Gerry Daly of The Irish Garden magazine
Quote: | There is hope because cordylines will re-sprout new shoots from the thick bark in most cases. This might happen in spring, or not until late summer. Sprouting might take place quite high on the remaining stems, or very low down, even from below soil level. And it could be the second year after damage that the tree might re-grow. So take away the withered leaves and leave the stems to see what happens next. |
_________________ The Secret Garden Centre
Newmarket
Co Cork
029 60084
www.thesecretgardener.com |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
barb Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 17 Feb 2010 Posts: 17 Location: kilkenny
|
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
many thanks will wait and see what happens then ! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
artalis Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree


Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 180 Location: Ireland
|
Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject: phormium and cordyline damage |
|
|
Hi barb,
Had to savagely cut down a phormium last year due to a burst pipe ( council put a water mains there but neglected to attach a stopper or tell me the mains was in my garden ) underneath it. It took three of us, digging, bungy jumping on it, cutting it back, roots and all to a sad stumpy thing. I almost cried. It took a now snapped stainless stell spade and Noah's flood to get it to budge.
Then three of us dragged it away, exhausted.........I left it with about 1 inch of root. It had formerly been 7ft high approx. I wrapped a blanket around it's base and left it for about 3 months to dry out, completely unattended above ground. When I checked it later it had a little bit of healthy root still on it. How could I refuse......I decided to try replanting it just to see if it could be saved.
A year later, it has been completely renewed, is covered in healthy young foliage and is about three feet high and wide. I think the old leaves which had dried out provided some sustenance for the new leaves that emerged from them later.
Other plants in my garden like the arum lily got flattened into a soggy heap by the severe frosts. But sprouted anew in spring after a slow start by about 2 months. The arum lily is a healthy plant once more.
If your phormium's roots are in deep soil, and if the base of the plant had a decent mulch or a skirt of dried leaves around it perhaps the roots of the plant are still healthy and if so the phormium may regrow in time. If the leaves weren't mushy perhaps you should leave them in place until signs of new growth.
I realize that the frosts have been and gone a few months ago now, so I wonder do either your cordylines or phormium have any signs yet of recovery?
There is no guarantee that the phormium will recover, but they are very resilient plants, so if you can wait perhaps it will be worth it.
artalis |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
barb Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 17 Feb 2010 Posts: 17 Location: kilkenny
|
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Many thanks
the phormium has started showing minor signs of recovery but the cordyline is as dead as a dodo...but will leave it for another few months just incase a miracle occurs.
Glad to hear your plants recovered so well.
best wishes
barbi |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
artalis Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree


Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 180 Location: Ireland
|
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:36 pm Post subject: phormium |
|
|
Hi Barbi,
If the crown of your cordyline is firm and not soft, then it is still alive, even if there are no new leaf shoots. If the crown and trunk appear to be decaying and falling apart, it is most likely dead.
All the same I have seen cordylines that were chopped straight across to within 3 ft of the ground, and new leafy heads appeared about a year later.
Glad your phormium is turning a corner......hopefully that will continue.
artalis |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2006 - present IrishGardeners.com (part of GardenPlansIreland.com)
|