Ball Trumpet Tree, Nana '- cutting and wintering

• Cut properly
• Hibernate in the bed
• Overwinter in bucket
• Care - Instructions
  • to water
  • Fertilize
  • transplant
  • repotting
  • Diseases
  • pests
• Tips for quick readers

Its spherical crown acts as a decorative eye-catcher in the creative garden design. The ball-trumpet tree 'Nana' gives small gardens a spatial structure and serves as an architectural component in parks. You will find out here how to skilfully cut the distinctive small tree with the shapely bracts and professionally overwinter it.

Thanks to its crown enhancement, the ball-trumpet tree 'Nana' remains at its initial height. In the creative garden design, the small tree scores with the decorative petals as a calculable component, since only the spherical crown increases in circumference. Those who familiarize themselves with the professional pruning, thus, even in the small garden, can easily control the growth and spatial extent of the popular Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana'. Other aspects of care are behind it, such as a balanced water and nutrient supply. Immerse yourself in an in-depth guide to cutting and wintering. Benefit from tried and tested tips for exemplary care.

Cut properly

Considering the leisurely growth of 10 to 20 centimeters a year, a bullet-trumpet tree requires only every few years after a pruning. Since the spherical crown develops on its own, the scissors are only used to limit the circumference. How to cut, Nana 'exemplary:

• The ideal date for pruning is a frost-free day in late winter
• Optionally, cut the crown into shape immediately after leaf fall
• Shorten lengths that are too long by a maximum of two thirds to the desired length
• Apply the scissors 2-3 mm above an outwardly directed leaf node

Annually inspect the crown every year in early spring for deadwood. Dead branches are cut off at the base, as well as branches that are directed into the interior of the crown. Sprout underneath the processing center wild shoots, tear them off with a courageous jerk. You also proceed with water shooters in the root area, which must be removed immediately throughout the year. If you use the scissors here, too much bark tissue remains, from which these unwanted branches can be expelled again within a short time.

Tip: Every cutback delays the new shoot. The later in spring a ball-trumpet tree is cut, the later he presents his magnificent foliage. By mid / end of March, the measure should ideally be implemented.

Hibernate in the bed

At a young age, the ball-trumpet tree proves to be sensitive to frost and cold wind. Especially during the first two years of operation as well as in exposed locations, the following precautions are advisable:

• Loosely wrap the trunk and crown with fleece before the first frost
• In wind-protected situations, avoid an envelope due to the risk of condensation
• The tree disc pile with Lauberde, straw, bark mulch or Nadelreisig

Already in late summer, you can significantly strengthen the hardiness of the ornamental tree. In August, administer a potassium-fortified fertilizer such as Kalimagnesia or Thomaskali. Potassium has the unique ability to increase the salt in plant cells. Salt is known to reduce the freezing point above a certain concentration. The ball-trumpet tree benefits from this property, as its shoots resist frosty temperatures for longer. First and foremost, the tree is well prepared for the intensive loads that are exerted by a permanent change from frost to thaw.

Overwinter in bucket

His noble stature impressively sets the ball-trumpet tree in the bucket. In terms of hibernation, however, this cultivation makes special demands, since the root ball is hardly protected behind the bucket walls from the rigors of wintry weather. How to handle it correctly:

• Ideally, a frost-free, not too dark winter quarters are available
• Put the bucket on insulating material, such as wood or styrofoam, in the open air
• Cover the vessel with several layers of bubble wrap, fleece or jute
• Cover the substrate with straw, sawdust or foliage

If the ornamental wood spends the winter in the security of a south wall, you can do without the protection of trunk and crown. Of essential importance, however, is the regular supply of water in Kahlfrost. If the lowest temperatures are below freezing, Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana' is threatened by drought stress. On frost-free days, therefore, moderate casting is a top priority.

Tip: Placed on a plant roller, even a weighty bucket with the ball-trumpet tree is mobile enough for a move to a frost-free winter quarters or a protected wall niche.

Care - Instructions

While cutting and wintering are among the supporting pillars of professional care, there are other aspects behind it. Familiarize yourself with a balanced water and nutrient balance, the right transplantation at the right time and possible treatments for diseases and pests.

to water

With increasing age, the need for casting decreases as a result of a vitally branched root system. Until the decorative small tree has established itself well in the bed, he does not get by without a regular water supply.

• Pour freshly planted young trees abundantly and regularly
• Water from the second year in summer dryness
• 'Nana' in the bucket demands additional water supply at all ages
• Pour better pervasively once a week than daily in small amounts

Always pour the water directly onto the tree disc and avoid sprinkling over the foliage. This prudence effectively prevents fungal infections. Please keep in mind that a downpour does not necessarily penetrate the leafy crown, so the watering can is still used.

Tip: Regular mulching with pine bark, leaves or grass clippings keeps the earth warm and moist for longer.

Fertilize

The nutrient requirement of a Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana' is at a low level. During the growing season the grazile wood is pleased with a portion of compost with horn shavings every 4 weeks. In the bucket you pamper the plant with liquid fertilizer, fertilizer sticks or granules. From August, Nana no longer receives fertilizer, so that the shoots mature in time for the winter.

transplant

Hobby gardeners are often insecure about the feasibility of relocating. This measure is easily possible, as professional nurseries demonstrate. Here even older trees are trained every 4 years to strengthen the vitality. If you have the plan to replant a ball-trumpet tree, then proceed professionally in these steps:

• Cut all shoots back by half to two thirds in spring
• Cut off the root area all around with the spade
• The radius corresponds to 60-75 percent of the stature height
• Repeat pouring until the autumn

Please wait until September / October for the ball-trumpet tree to develop new fine roots. Then loosen the root ball with the grave fork and lift the tree out of the ground. In the sunny to partially shaded location already a sufficiently large planting pit is created with a drainage on the sole. Here you put the wood in the middle. The rootstock enriched with compost sludge the root ball. If there is a time span of more than one day between planting and replanting, place the root ball in a bale and keep it slightly moist.

repotting

While the transplanting in the bed only takes place when needed, repeated repotting counts every 3-4 years for the care protocol. At the latest when the roots threaten to burst the planter, the time is right. Preferably choose an appointment in early spring, just before the recent sprouting. Follow these steps:

• Thoroughly round out the ball crown and shorten if necessary
• In the new bucket over the water drain with pottery shards create a drainage
• Fill up to one-third with high-quality container potting soil
• Dice the ball-trumpet tree and insert it centrally into the fresh substrate

While a helping hand stabilizes the tree, sludge the root ball with soil so that no cavities form. It is important to note that 'Nana' is planted exactly as deep as before. The earth mark on the trunk indicates the optimal planting depth.

Tip: An air- and water-permeable fleece between drainage and substrate prevents Erdkrümel clog the inorganic material immediately again.

Diseases

If there are any health problems with the ball-trumpet tree, these usually result from neglect of care. However, Nana is not completely immune to disease. These infections make life difficult for the tree:

mildew

If a floury-gray patina spreads out on humid-warm weather on the leaves, it is most likely mildewy. This fungal infection drives its mischief in the ornamental and vegetable garden from spring to late summer. Effective home remedies can save you the hassle of chemical fungicide unless the disease has progressed too far. How to tackle mildew:

• Fresh milk and water mix in the ratio 1: 9
• Spray the crown repeatedly until the coating disappears
• Do not use the home remedy under blazing sunlight

Verticillium wilt

This fungal infection attacks the tree from the roots. Typical symptoms are withered, yellowed, crinkling leaves. In the course of the foliage hangs limp down. The fungal spores clog the supply lanes in the tree so that neither water nor nutrients get into the shoots and foliage. A healing method could not be developed so far. At an advanced stage, the tree should be disposed of to prevent further spread of this fatal disease. These measures have a preventive effect:

• Choose a location with nutrient rich, well drained soil
• Do not expose the tree to drought or waterlogging
• Repeated organic fertilizer from March to August
• In the early stage, perform a vigorous pruning by two-thirds

pests

Back pests the ball-trumpet tree to deal with, it is usually the usual suspects in the garden. Check the tree regularly for the following pest spirits to kill them immediately:

aphids

On time with the beginning of spring, the weak parasites are on the spot. The tiny aphids are green, brown or black and populate both the tops and bottoms of the leaves. They are spreading at breakneck speed so that there is an immediate need for action:

• Rinse the affected tree thoroughly
• In 1 liter of water add 15 ml of soap soap and spirit and spray on repeatedly
• Alternatively, add 20 ml rapeseed oil and 1 drop of Pril in 1 liter of water and apply

Coffee extract of 4 tablespoons of coffee grounds, 15 ml of curd soap and 1 liter of water has an intense effect. Before using this remedy, the effects on the foliage should be tested. Simultaneously in the garden a fungal infection, such as mildew rids, the leaves of the ball-trumpet tree should not be moistened. In this case, fine rock flour applied with a powder syringe acts as an effective control agent of aphids.

Tips for quick readers

• Best pruning date is in February and March
• Molding required only every 3-4 years
• Equip winter protection at a young age
• Keep the root ball in the bucket from frost damage
• Water with frost
• In case of dryness, water the established ball-trumpet tree
• Water in the bucket regularly
• Fertilize every 4 weeks from March to August
• Transplant in the fall if necessary
• Before that, cut off the roots in the spring
• Repot every 3-4 years in early spring
• Drainage from potsherds on the bottom of the tub
• Against mildew proceed with milk-water mix
• Aphids fight with home remedies