The species Podocarpus macrophyllus also goes by the names fern.
So, be extra careful not to overwater during winter!
Nov 23, Pruning or shearing to shape your Podocarpus for formal hedges or shapes can be performed almost any time of year. That said, to avoid damage to new growth that is stimulated by pruning, cease pruning your Podocarpus plants two months prior to the average first frost date in your area. Pruning can resume after the plant has gone dormant in winter. Aug 09, The good news is that podocarpus will take any amount of pruning and training so don't be afraid to prune yours back.
You can completely remove some of the branches/stems by reaching into the center of the plant and pruning them off. This will result in the production of healthy new stems. Pruning and Species Also called the Japanese yew or yew pine, numerous Podocarpus cultivars range from shrubs to small trees.
Do not prune more than one-third of the wood in one year. Pruning a. Trim the green tips of the podocarpus to shape the tree or encourage fullness. Prune the outermost growth very lightly to create hedges. Act in July or August to experience a second flush of growth. Yes, you can prune your fern pine (Podocarpus gracilior) hedge now to keep it flat.
Once it gets out of shape then it’s more difficult to correct. Most non-flowering hedges can be pruned year round, but they will grow faster in warmer weather.
The easiest way to get rid of scale-infected branches is to prune them and then destroy them.
Regular pruning keeps podocarpus hedges and columns looking attractive. The University of Florida recommends pruning these trees using a hand pruner, rather than an electric hedge trimmer, for best results.
Avoid pruning large amounts from the tree at once.