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Severed Cotinus Coggygria

LastboatLastboat Posts: 61
in Problem solving

So, today my 2-year old cycled straight into my recently planted Cotinus coggygria and has severed both branches on the left of the plant!! They are hanging on by a thread, where they meet the main stem, and I don't know what to do! If I remove them the plant will be completely one sided. Am I able to tape them up somehow or is the damage already done? If I remove them cleanly and stick them in rooting powder, can I repot them as cuttings?? Should I prune the other side as much as possible and hope the whole lot will simply produce more shoots that are less wonky? Grrrrr... it was just starting to produce a few leaves (admittedly just at the ends), which glowed beautifully in the sun. Please help! 

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Posts

  • IamweedyIamweedy Posts: 1,364

    How is the child? image  

    I would suggest trimming it (the cotinus not the child) down to the nearest leaf node on the stem and take cuttings from the broken stems. Confiscate the bike?   




    'You must have some bread with it me duck!'

  • IamweedyIamweedy Posts: 1,364

      OOps

    Are the branches completely severed?  I have managed to join up partially torn plant stems by splinting them and taping them up with gaffer tape.




    'You must have some bread with it me duck!'

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016

    What might work is to dig a hole a couple of feet deep.  Plant said child with one branch in each hand with arms outstretched.  If this is done in front of the damaged plant it might disguise the damage. image

  • IamweedyIamweedy Posts: 1,364

    KT53  imageimageimage




    'You must have some bread with it me duck!'

  • LastboatLastboat Posts: 61

    Ha ha ha!!!! I am going with KT53's suggestion! AND confiscating the bike! 

    See, this is what happens when you follow the advice of GW forum members and plant a mixture of lovely young trees and shrubs along your front fence instead of a line of privet!!! 

    Said child is sleeping peacefully by my side after wondering why mum is so crazily irrational about her plants.

    I'll reinspect the damage when I get up and see if splinting is possible - not completely severed when I last looked but almost.

    Thanks for your advice :-) 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    it's a good time of year to cut back a cotinus, take it back to a bud below the damage. Better than trying to splint of rescue. It will grow away quickly



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016

    Isn't it always the way? You have 20 things you don't care about and one which you do.  The ankle biters seem to be able to home in on the 'one' with pinpoint accuracy.

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698

    Agree with nut. Perhaps cut back some of the non-damaged branches to balance it up. It'll grow back rapidly.

    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • LastboatLastboat Posts: 61

    If I take it back to the bud below the damage (on the main stem) I'll be left with a stick! image Just off to remind myself of the carnage...

  • LastboatLastboat Posts: 61

    image

    Well I have taken my first ever plant cuttings and reduced my lovely smokebush to not a lot at all (humour me here)! I have every faith in mother nature and you lot that it will grow back rapidly. 

    I'm now wondering if I ought to do the same with the midwinter fire dogwood, next to it or should I leave well alone?

    image

    Last edited: 18 April 2017 11:13:13

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