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Prunus lusitanica

GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
in Plants
Just been to the local nursery and looked through all the hedging plants. Found a Prunus lusitanica with a very straight strong upright stem with a view to making a lollypop .I have re potted it into a slightly bigger pot, it was healthy but nearly pot bound.  It is about two feet tall and I have already cut it too shape. Would like some thoughts on it's future care as I am just guessing at what to do.Thank you 
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    They are pretty robust plants @GardenerSuze and take pruning into topiary well.  I assume you have used a soil based compost like John Innes No 3 which is important.  Keep the soil moist but not wet.  They have a tendency to succumb to powdery mildew so be vigilant with your watering, especially in a pot.  I have two mature shrubs pruned into pyramid shapes in the ground.  They were unhappy last year as I didn't keep an eye on watering but they seem to have recovered.  I like the fact that they are evergreen, and a nice green!  Good luck!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Thank you @Plantminded this all looks like very good advice which I will follow. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2022
    One other thought @GardenerSuze, to avoid bruised and unsightly leaves when you prune, I have found that they look much better if you use secateurs or snips, not  shears or an electric hedge trimmer, especially as a topiary specimen (impractical as a hedge!)😊
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Thank you for your advice! :)
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • WhalehqWhalehq Posts: 14
    Hi I'd just like the resurrect this one.

    I have two Planters 400mm deep  x 800mm long x 400mm wide and have bought 4 Portugese laurels for them. The laurels are around 5-600mm and bushier than many I've seen.

    I'm going to plant them for privacy reasons primarily and intend to top them at somewhere between 1-1.5m and ideally around 800mm thick.

    I understand that they should be planted at c.3ft centers, so really I should have 1 max in the planters I have.

    So I'm considering using a 400mmx400mmx400mm fabric pot to keep their root systems separate within the planter feed them fish blood/bone and as they develop (2 or 3 years) repot them into their own 800mm planter. By that stage hopefully they'll be wide enough to provide decent privacy in their own right.

    Will this work with this type of plant or is it destined to become pot bound in that size of a container. 
    I've read that root trimming is something which can be done to fruit trees to stop them from becoming pot bound? Perhaps I could trim them every few years? I've also read that fabric pots effectively trim or restrict root growth naturally.

    If it is unrealistic to expect to grow these in pots for say the next 20 years. I'll buy some small box plants and let them develop in another pot for potting in these planters when they get to a decent size.

    Any advice/ experience very much appreciated. Thanks
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