Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_10.gif)
Thursday - July 01, 2010
From: Coolidge, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pruning, Trees
Title: Runaway growth on mountain laurel in Coolidge AZ
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have 2 mountain laurels. They are thriving well. In fact one is growing way too fast. I am growing it as a tree, but the branches are in excess of 6 feet, while the trunk is only 18 or so inches. I have it tied to a post. The tree is only a year or so in ground and bloomed beautifully. I need to know when and how to prune it.ANSWER:
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) is not shown in this USDA Plant Profile as growing natively in Arizona, but obviously, you are managing very well. From Pima County Arizona Cooperative Extension, here is some more information on the Mountain Laurel. Another article, this one from Arid Zone Trees, Sophora secundiflora provides more on the culture of the tree, including the fact it should be pruned lightly, and excessive pruning avoided, as it only produces flowers on year-old wood. For this reason, we would recommend that whatever pruning you feel necessary should be done right after the blooming has finished. If you are trying to procure seeds, you will have to let the blooms mature to seed pods. We also know that it needs very good drainage, and cannot tolerate water on its roots.
As for the excess growth, watch the fertilizer. This is one of those desert plants that is really not too fond of fertilization. You probably don't need to fertilize it at all and, if you do, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer, not high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer, because that will produce excess foliage and not many flowers.
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Pruning Questions
Dealing with live oak suckers in Central Texas
March 05, 2015 - Hi, I have a couple huge Live Oak trees in my back yard. Trunks are 4' in diameter. These Live Oaks produce a lot of root sprouts/suckers. I had always head that a tree's roots feed on water/oxyg...
view the full question and answer
Pruning lower branches of Cordia Boissieri from San Antonio
December 08, 2013 - My Texas Wild Olive Tree is about 6 feet high now. I bought it at the 2012 plant sale. This past summer it put on new branches near the base of the tree which I would like to cut off (to encourage u...
view the full question and answer
When is the best time to trim oak trees in Driftwood TX?
September 09, 2010 - When is the best time to trim oak trees?
view the full question and answer
Deadheading a petunia and why
July 13, 2008 - Can you please tell me the correct way to de-head a petunia and why?
view the full question and answer
Wound from non-native date palm thorn Naples FL
November 12, 2012 - Was trimming my pygmy date palm when a frond fell and a thorn pierced my rubber gloves and stuck me in the web of skin between my thumb and forefinger. Did not see a broken thorn but area where struc...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |