Hi there, would appreciate some advice on a young Tipuana (Tipu) tree. It is spreading very wide horizontally but hardly growing taller vertically. (some branches/leaves are already touching the ground.) Am new to tree growing and have no idea what to do, assuming that it needs to be pruned, etc.
Any help in the right direction would be very much appreciated.
Hi Suzanne, check to see that the central growing tip has not been damaged - either by humans or birds/animals. Every plant needs a leading growth tip and plants will grow skew-wiff if they lose it, though many will recover naturally in time. Tipuana do grow quite wide naturally which is why they make such good shade trees. Don't trim them back too much - its only doing what its genes tell it to do. Most plants do however respond to a light trim - just be careful not to cut the growing tip if it is still there. P.S. Overall I'd say that tree is looking very green and healthy (albeit a bit overly droopy) - my main concern is that you don't have enough space for it to grow to its optimum size and shape. Your soil also looks to be super-draining so I'd make sure it gets enough water. A layer of mulch all around will help maintain moisture in the root zone.