When to Prune a Golden Duranta
The golden Duranta or golden dewdrop is a perennial plant that’s cultivated in many tropical and sub-tropical gardens, there are some 30 species of this ornamental beauty, the golden Duranta is native to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, this broadleaf evergreen shrub can be grown as a hedge or a specimen or stand-alone plant.
The golden Duranta can reach heights of 1 to 3 feet, 3 to 8 feet, or 8 to 20 feet, other common names for this shrub are sky flower, pigeon berry, for-get-me-not, Brazilian sky flower, Kachang Puteh, and lilac-flower golden dewdrop. The golden dewdrop can be identified by its smooth yellow-golden leaves. The fruits or berries that are produced in large clusters are golden round to slightly elongated, the flowers are light purple small, and tubular attracting butterflies.
In order for your golden Duranta to grow healthy while maintaining its natural form requires some pruning which we will be discussing, this small action that is taken will pay off in big ways so with that said let’s get started.
Reasons for pruning
- Pruning for beauty
- Pruning to keep the natural form
- Removing overgrowth/Reduction
- Removing old growth
- Removal of disease parts
- Thinning
- Pruning for security purposes
- Encourage flowers and fruit production
Pruning to keep the natural form
Garden plants needs and annual pruning to maintain their natural form, this pruning will encourage a fuller plant.
Pruning for beauty
Besides pruning for natural form garden plants can be pruned for aesthetics, some of these shapes include square, circular, flat top, prune in the shapes of animals, and other forms. These shapes can add beauty and value to a garden and the property as a whole, I have used this method of pruning on garden plants such as shrubs and ornamental plants.
Removing overgrowth/Reduction
Removing overgrowth or reducing a plant height is important especially when branches are growing into windows, doorways, walkways, and electrical wires especially. A word of warning, however, branches that are too high especially growing into electrical wires require the help of a professional company. It may cause you to dig a little deeper (fee) but I had rather pay the professional (Those who are trained) than put my life and the lives of others at risk.
Removing old growth
Removal of old growth is so important because branches that are aged tend to break with high winds which can be hazardous causing injury to humans as well as animals or can be fatal so remove old growth.
Removal of disease parts
Disease parts should also be removed, this removal of disease parts will stop the spread helping plants to bounce back to good health.
Pruning for security purposes
Branches and limbs can get in the way obstructing views, branches and limbs that are blocking windows should be removed immediately and remain clear at all times. A tip here, before installing plants know the height of those plants at maturity so they can be placed properly, never install a plant that reaches 10 feet or more in front of a window that’s 5 feet from the ground level. Installing a plant that reaches 2 to 3 feet at maturity is better suited for a window of this height. Remember to ensure that your view is clear at all times.
Encourage flowers and fruit production
Pruning can be used to encourage the production of flowers and fruits, pruning allows garden plants to be rejuvenated or go through a rest period. This rest period will cause garden plants to be more productive especially when the growth and bloom period starts again.
Tools to use for pruning
When pruning ensure the tools that are used are in good repair and sharp, sterilizing the blade with bleach will help in discouraging the spread of disease. Pruning tools include lopper shears, hand pruners, pruning saw, pole pruner, and hedge shears.
Golden Duranta pruning procedures
1. Mix 1 part bleach and 9 parts freshwater, use this solution to clean your pruning tools such as loppers and pruning shears before pruning and in between making your cuts. This process is especially effective when pruning plants that are diseased.
2. Look for branches that are diseased, damaged, or dead and remove them, when cutting larger branches use loppers. Old wood that no longer produces flowers should be removed at this time also.
3. Branches that grow too close to the ground should be removed, leave a clearing below the tree by cutting branches at the trunk.
4. Overgrowth can be pruned back to the desired size and shape, to control the spread and the height of the tree the longer branches should be removed from the base of the tree.
5. Suckers and water sprouts should be removed from the base of the tree, the suckers can be removed with pruning shears or your hands by pinching.
Golden Duranta tree plant care
Golden Duranta should be planted in late winter or early spring
GoldenDuranta should be fertilized four times a year, during the growing season. Begin fertilizing in early spring when the new growth emerges and discontinue during late fall
During the first season golden Duranta that is newly planted should be water weekly or when the soil drys out, check the soil by sticking your finger about an inch or two into the soil, a soil probe or moisture meter can be used also, these devices can be purchased from your plant nursery or garden center.
The final word on golden Duranta tree pruning
The golden Duranta like other plants needs tender loving care besides the regular maintenance practices. Pruning plays an important role in the health of garden plants. From what we have discussed we have seen the benefits of pruning so I hope you are encouraged to give your golden Duranta and annually pruning so they can go to work for you by producing beautiful flower bloom, the pruning procedure of this plant is so simple but yet effective.
About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
There was a time when I naively thought gardens took care of themselves. For example, I thought when flowers die they fall off and are replenished by new flowers. And everything looks pretty all the time.
When I started to garden I wondered why my plants didn’t look that way. Your article makes it perfectly clear that all plants need care to stay healthy and provide us with beauty. Care of the Golden Duranta is a perfect example of this philosophy.
I’ll bookmark this for future reference.
Thanks for sharing.
Edwin
Hello Edwin, having a garden does require some work even if it’s a low-maintenance garden, having a beautiful garden is truly amazing. Wishing you all the best with your garden project, have a good day.
Hi Norman. On one of my previous properties I grew a row of Golden Duranta that I gradually formed into a hedge about fifty feet long by five feet high. I found it an easy plant to grow and maintain, although it did need shaping regularly. U simply used a battery Hedger to keep it neat. It truly is a fantastic plant to grow. Thank you for this interesting article and for your incredible website. I have enjoyed looking through it and I will return for future posts. Jim
Hello Jim, I am so happy that I could help, and thanks so much for stopping by, thanks also for your kind words. Wishing you all the best with your garden project.
The Golden Duranta looks like a nice ornamental plant to have in the garden. These are also good and straightforward pruning tips. Many gardeners know that some plants need to be regularly pruned in order to be at their best, but there aren’t a lot of guides on pruning that are this easy to understand.
This is a beautiful plant and will grow well as long as you give them what they need. Thanks so much for you kind words.