how to cut down a giant bird of paradise

Cut it in short sections from top to desired height. Trimming off old leaves and stems occasionally is pretty much all that's necessary for a white bird of paradise. This article has been viewed 52,515 times. Kanye: Kim talked me out of considering abortion. Tame an out-of-control Bird of Paradise using a pruning saw. Use common sense and prioritize your safety and integrity of your tools and truck over removing the plant. Continue to water the transplant to keep the soil moist for the first three weeks. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, North Dakota University Extension Service: Transplanting Trees and Shrubs. These plants can easily grow to be up to 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter, so refrain from planting other flowers in the surrounding area. Should I cut it back? Stem Rot In Birds Of Paradise - We have two giant birds of paradise which grew to over 12 feet tall in the past two years. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. After trimming, give your tool blades a five-minute soak in a 50:50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water to sanitize them. From these flowers seed is generated and pollinated by a host of insects. % of people told us that this article helped them. Last Updated: April 23, 2020 White bird of paradise forms giant clumps. Because it's a clumping plant that grows multiple stems, you can cut down some of the stalks without hurting the plant. Got many of them, but was just impossible to get them … Use an herbicide stump and root killer (provided you plan to stop the plant from growing completely) and soak all of the new cuts with the herbicide. When to Fertilize Grass in Florida Growing Grass. Always be careful on the ladder! Once established, cut back to once or twice per week, depending on your weather conditions. The Bird of Paradise flower is brightly colored with spiky-looking blooms that are eye catching and exciting in any garden. Failure to remove dead leaves can result in rotting and fungal infections that can kill the plant completely, so make sure you dispose of the dead foliage completely! https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/bird-of-paradise-pruning.htm, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/cut-back-bird-paradise-40632.html, https://www.green.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/LNR-SOP-703-Pruning-Bird-of-Paradise.pdf, http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/bird-of-paradise.html, https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1898, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Its a nightmare and I feel your pain! A Bird of Paradise that is trimmed in this way will normally grow back within 1-2 blooming seasons if treated with water and fertilizer. For dense plants, use a pruning saw to cut the entire plant to about 1 foot off the ground. A hard prune should be done every few years as a reaction to the bird of paradise's growth rate. Use chain saw to cut plant stems down to about a foot above the ground. Be careful not to break the handle. "I needed to understand the process of dead-heading my Bird of Paradise. Use a spade, pick ax or reciprocating saw to help cut through the roots (you won’t be able to get them all). Maintaining tropicals can be a PITA. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Use a sharpened and sterilized pruning knife to cut the rhizome of your giant white bird of paradise plant into individual single-stemmed sections. Anyway, i have some Giant bird of paradise trees and recently, over the past few days, one of the trees has been leaning over further and further. Drag the tarp to the plant's new planting site, being careful not to disrupt the root system. Always try to remove any dead foliage as close to the stump of the plant as possible to maintain the trimmed appearance of the plant. You will want to cut the spent bloom, which lacks the typical orange and blue colors, at the flower’s base. Use a hand saw or chain saw, and cut it down to about 12 inches above the ground. Look for brown, dead flowers, and cut the stem of these growths as close as possible to the base of the plant. Bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae) with orange and blue flowers and the tree-sized giant bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) with white and blue flowers are both popular in New Orleans gardens. Dig around and under root ball of plant as much as possible. If you have even 2 or 3 dead blooms, removing them can help the remaining flowers live longer. Remove the bird of paradise broken stalks during pruning. It generally regrows in spring from the ground and can be pruned to a few inches above the ground in late winter. Also, when you cut into the plant to get poison further inside, you have to apply the Round-up within about 30 seconds. ... How to Split a Giant White Bird of Paradise Plant Should I cut it back? Drier soil is usually easier to cut through than extremely wet soil. Q. Mexican Yellow Bird Of Paradise - I want to take a cutting of a yellow bird of paradise and plant it. Cannas are also popping right through it. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Try to get as much of the roots as possible, so adjust your digging depth and width as you feel the roots. Always wear thick gardening gloves when pruning. Q: My Mexican bird of paradise was gorgeous this year, the best ever. Melissa Lewis is a former elementary classroom teacher and media specialist. Start to dig a circle around your giant bird of paradise plant with a spade. Use a hand saw or chain saw, and cut it down to about 12 inches above the ground. Remove the giant bird of paradise from its hole and allow it to lay on its side on the tarp. Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai) A crown of banana-like leaves atop a palm tree trunk, combined with huge, uniquely beautiful flowers, is deserving of the name, "Bird of Paradise tree." The white bird of paradise, or Strelitzia nicolai, is an ornamental plant related to the banana tree and can be potted and grown in sunny locations indoors or in your garden. You will then have room to dig and still have part of the plant to grip to pull it out of the soil. We have cut several Cocos Palms down over the years and some we have cut out the centre of the stump and planted Bromies or succulents. Hi Pj – The Giant Bird Of Paradise is a beautiful plant. Q. She has also written for various online publications. You will then have room to dig and still have part of the plant to grip to pull it out of the soil. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. For more tips from our Horticulturalist co-author, including how to keep Bird of Paradise plants safe during frosts, keep reading! It may not be much faster with a Bird of Paradise. You often need to cut down big trunks or canes of plants. These instructions were very clear.". She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. For thick stalks, a small tree saw works well. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. I don’t have any BOP’s or GBOP’s here so unfortunately I can’t do a video for you. The Bird of Paradise flower is brightly colored and can grow extremely large as long as you prune it after it has finished blooming. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Step#2. Try to place it in an area protected from strong winds. Keep bird of paradise (Strelitizia reginae) and white bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) looking trim and tidy with regular pruning.Regularly tidying up the dead flowers and leaf debris also helps keep fungal diseases from getting established. This article has been viewed 52,515 times. Take the plant out of the hole and shake off the excess soil. The flowers are now going to seed pods. Is ... Q. Bird Of Paradise - What is best way to cut off dead flower and leaves Q. Bird Of Paradise - How long does the bloom usually last. The giant bird has large purple and white flowers. You can also tie a rope around it and pull it out with a truck. Consider cutting it progressively with a machete until you have it down to the stump. Place them in a compost bin or throw them away in the garbage. Situate the plant into its new hole and begin filling the hole with soil. Bird of paradise can be cleaned up and trimmed at any point, but serious pruning should wait until early spring. It took about 3 years before the plant was dead, and a few more years before the stump rotted out. Whether you are having difficulties with your giant bird of paradise plant, or it’s time for a change, the best method to get rid of it is by physically removing it from your garden or yard. Pups sprouting from around the plant's base can also be removed. The GBOP is much harder to divide than the regular BOP because it’s so much bigger & tougher. I dug out a heap of mature (30ft high) giant birds of paradise earlier this year. What Causes Piles of Dirt in Your Yard? When cut the plant starts to block off that area and that will prevent the poison being transported further if the application is late. These flowers can grow to be extremely large, and they require regular maintenance to stay healthy. A pole saw would come in real handy, there nice to have around too. Amazon's massive Labor Day sale launched early The giant bird of paradise grows smaller shoots at the bottom. Bird of Paradise, also known as Crane flower, Crane lily or Wild Banana, is native to southern Africa. The goals of bird of paradise pruning are to remove old plant matter, thin the leaves, and take out damaged stems. The goals of bird of paradise pruning are to remove old plant matter, thin the leaves, and take out damaged stems. The flowers are now going to seed pods. Step#3. It’s okay to begin pruning before all of the blooms on the plant have died. Leaves of a white bird of paradise can become chewed up from wind damage, making the plant unattractive. Can this work, and how ... Q. Transplanting Giant Bird Of Paradise - I have three giant birds of paradise in my front yard that have grown to over 9 feet to the ... Q. Bird Of Paradise Not Growing - My plants are not growing at all. Water the newly planted giant bird of paradise well, making sure the water reaches down into the root system. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You can also rock the plant back and forth to help free it. What Does Decomposed Organic Matter Do to Soil? The Bird of Paradise plant, or strelitzia, is a large and gorgeous foliage plant that looks just as majestic indoors in a pot, as it does outside in the garden.This plant is famous for its round palm-like leaves and its brightly-coloured architectural flowers that bloom to look like tropical birds – earning the strelitzia the household name of ‘Bird of Paradise’ plant. Cut down your giant bird of paradise. If your plant is too dense and crowded with dead foliage and growth for you to reach the center, use a large pruning saw to cut the entire plant about 1 foot (0.30 m) off of the ground. What you need to know about bird of paradise Name: bird of paradise, strelitzia , crane flower, bird’s tongue flower (Strelitzia reginae) Plant type: evergreen, forms a trunkless clump Height: to around 1.2m tall by 2–3m wide with age Foliage: similar to a small banana leaf but on a stem, very rigid, green to grey-blue. Both Yellow and Mexican Bird of Paradise flowers should be pruned sparingly when flowers and stems begin to die. Got many of them, but was just impossible to get them … The red bird of paradise dies back to the ground at temperatures below freezing. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Pull up on the plant as well. Make sure that each single-stemmed section has at least four root shoots. I cut them down to the ground, and tried (with help) digging up the roots. Birds Of Paradise - My bird of paradise plants froze over the winter and I cut them all the way back, getting rid of ... Q. I did it with a Bougainvillea, also covered the stump so no light got to any new leaves trying to come through. When the main trunk gets too big, it is cut down and the smaller shoots are allowed to take its place. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. I have a stamped asphalt courtyard, and my giant bird of paradise has raised the asphalt so much that I cannot open a set of doors and had to have my gate trimmed up. Dig about 12 to 18 inches, and cut in under the root ball. It is relatively hardy and adapts to a wide spectrum of light conditions from direct … Do not use hedge trimmers on your Bird of Paradise because this can cause irreversible damage to the plant. If your plant is in a pot, bring it indoors during very cold temperatures to prevent freezing of the leaves and flowers. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,515 times. Instructions: Step#1. When using the saw, work slowly. I moved from California to Arizona in June & miss my 20′ GBOP. References. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Red Bird of Paradise flowers are very hardy and can handle heavy pruning two times per year if the plant is healthy. Wait until the soil is mostly dry to get rid of your giant bird of paradise plant. Step 4 Prepare your giant white bird of paradise … All Rights Reserved. Lawn Maintenance. I haven't seen a reference anywhere as to giant bird roots being a problem, so it may be that the asphalt surface is the whole problem. Contact your local utility companies, such as gas, electric and cable, if you are going to dig further than 12 inches to get rid of your giant bird of paradise. This helps your plant to look clean and colorful year round! Start with the basics and make sure you have a solid pair of gardening gloves and a sharp pair of pruning shears ready to go. The slow-growing Strelitzia juncea grows up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and has leaves that disappear over time, giving the plant appearance of a waterside reed or rush. If the plant isn’t growing well throughout the year, prune at least half of the stems to the ground to allow the plant to grow healthy. A giant bird of paradise plant (Strelitzia nicolai) can grow to a height between 15 and 30 feet and width of 15 feet. By using our site, you agree to our. Start to dig a circle around your giant bird of paradise plant with a spade. Mulching the base of plants in colder areas may protect the crown until spring. When to Put Crabgrass Preventer Down Lawn Maintenance. If your plant is simply growing too large, remove the outer edges of the plant by cutting the stem and leaf to the base. Q. Bird Of Paradise Leaf - I have one leaf on my bird of paradise that has a point, all the other leaves are rounded. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Its a nightmare and I feel your pain! As always, Floralife has some practical Bird of Paradise care and handling tips for … If necessary, call in a tree remover specialist. Bird of paradise plants are beautiful, but they can get out of control. Some states, such as North Dakota, require this by law. This will give you the space to clear out old foliage and let new growth begin. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Prune-a-Bird-of-Paradise-Plant-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-a-Bird-of-Paradise-Plant-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Prune-a-Bird-of-Paradise-Plant-Step-1.jpg\/aid9830044-v4-728px-Prune-a-Bird-of-Paradise-Plant-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"