Hi Mike,
I was wondering if you could give me some advice on my Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick. I bought a very small bare root one last spring and want to train him into tree form but he’s now so crooked and woody, with only branches growing horizontal, that I can’t train him straight up a post… However I was told he is on his own roots rather than grafted and he did put out 2 suckers this year which are approx. a foot tall now. So my question is, can I just cut the largest, woody part of him down to the ground and let one of these new flexible suckers take over and be my new Harry who I grow up a post and train into a tree?
Thank you.
Melinda .
If those suckers are straight and not contorted they need to be removed completely. That’s a sure sign that the plant is not on it’s own roots. Allow the plant to grow in shrub form. You’ll like it that way.
Dear Mike,
I have a HLWstick that is less than a year old. When I got it, the stem (trunk?) was already about 2 inches diameter. It did beautifully over the summer and into the fall, but I really want it to be a little taller rather than bushy. Is it too late to stake it? Right not it’s only about 18 inches high, but it twists like crazy. I’ve been very vigilant about suckers and so far haven’t seen any. I wanted a plant that no one else in my neighborhood had so that’s how I ended up with it. Best decision I’ve made for my yard so far. I just want to make sure I can get it more like a small tree instead of a bush. Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Our Harry is about 3 years old. I watched your video, and here is my question: We want him tall, and he is way to bushy. We thought he would grow “up”. It’s Sept. 18, and Fall is nearly here in Philadelphia.
Question #1: ***At this point, Is Harry too old for us to cut off all those lower branches, and try to get him to grow tall? I am concerned that if we stake him, does that make the roots weak, since he is being supported? We love him, and do not want to hurt him, but our garden design calls for him to get tall, not bushy (he is surrounded by other flowering plants and was supposed to be a tall, center piece.)
Question #2 ***If it’s okay to cut him back, is late September the right time, our should we wait till late October or latte November??
Any other comments or suggestions on caring for Harry?
A Harry Lauder’s on it’s own should reach a height of about 5′. Any taller than that would take training and that really needs to be done with a young plant. Go ahead and prune now if you want.
Terry, cut it any time you want, the sooner the better. Cut suckers as close to the plant as you can to keep them from growing back. Then throughout the growing season look for new sucker buds and pinch them off before they have a chance to grow. -Mike McGroarty
Hi Mike,
Great teaching video. I have a HLWstick that is about 12-15 years old. It is over 10 ft. and about as round. How do I prune this. It is now interfering with a nearby trellis (actuallly a climbing apparatus our kids used) where I have a clematis. Is it okay to be aggressive with my clippers? I love this thing and don’t want to kill it.
Thanks.
Jane
I’m wandering if it’s ok to mist my leaves when I’m watering my walking stick tree?
Ruth,
Sure that’s fine.
Hi Mike,
I was wondering if you could give me some advice on my Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick. I bought a very small bare root one last spring and want to train him into tree form but he’s now so crooked and woody, with only branches growing horizontal, that I can’t train him straight up a post… However I was told he is on his own roots rather than grafted and he did put out 2 suckers this year which are approx. a foot tall now. So my question is, can I just cut the largest, woody part of him down to the ground and let one of these new flexible suckers take over and be my new Harry who I grow up a post and train into a tree?
Thank you.
Melinda .
Melinda,
If those suckers are straight and not contorted they need to be removed completely. That’s a sure sign that the plant is not on it’s own roots. Allow the plant to grow in shrub form. You’ll like it that way.
Dear Mike,
I have a HLWstick that is less than a year old. When I got it, the stem (trunk?) was already about 2 inches diameter. It did beautifully over the summer and into the fall, but I really want it to be a little taller rather than bushy. Is it too late to stake it? Right not it’s only about 18 inches high, but it twists like crazy. I’ve been very vigilant about suckers and so far haven’t seen any. I wanted a plant that no one else in my neighborhood had so that’s how I ended up with it. Best decision I’ve made for my yard so far. I just want to make sure I can get it more like a small tree instead of a bush. Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Kelly,
You should be able to stake it and prune to the shape that pleases you. They are very easy to work with.
Thank you!
Our Harry is about 3 years old. I watched your video, and here is my question: We want him tall, and he is way to bushy. We thought he would grow “up”. It’s Sept. 18, and Fall is nearly here in Philadelphia.
Question #1: ***At this point, Is Harry too old for us to cut off all those lower branches, and try to get him to grow tall? I am concerned that if we stake him, does that make the roots weak, since he is being supported? We love him, and do not want to hurt him, but our garden design calls for him to get tall, not bushy (he is surrounded by other flowering plants and was supposed to be a tall, center piece.)
Question #2 ***If it’s okay to cut him back, is late September the right time, our should we wait till late October or latte November??
Any other comments or suggestions on caring for Harry?
Flo,
A Harry Lauder’s on it’s own should reach a height of about 5′. Any taller than that would take training and that really needs to be done with a young plant. Go ahead and prune now if you want.
Can I cut the sucker from H.L.W. stick In the spring or do I have to wait until this fall and do cut the sucker all the way to the ground ?
Terry, cut it any time you want, the sooner the better. Cut suckers as close to the plant as you can to keep them from growing back. Then throughout the growing season look for new sucker buds and pinch them off before they have a chance to grow. -Mike McGroarty
Hi Mike,
Great teaching video. I have a HLWstick that is about 12-15 years old. It is over 10 ft. and about as round. How do I prune this. It is now interfering with a nearby trellis (actuallly a climbing apparatus our kids used) where I have a clematis. Is it okay to be aggressive with my clippers? I love this thing and don’t want to kill it.
Thanks.
Jane
Thanks Mike
that was very helpful i will prune my walking stick even further than I have in the fall