When you wanta dense hedgethat screens out the neighbors without take care harsh and unneighborly , Podocarpus gracilior , more normally make out as fern pine , is a good choice . Fern pine tree is an evergreen plant hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture flora hardiness zones 10 to 13 , with a dim growth of feathery blue - gullible parting along its 30- to 50 - animal foot height . Because it is a tree , growing fern pine as a hedgerow mean regular trimming .
Step 1
cleanse your pruning dick with household antiseptic cleaner before making any cuts to avoid transmit any plant disease or fungus that might be on the blades from other plants to your fern pine .
Step 2
Cut away any dead , broken or pathologic branches with garden shears . Position clean garden shear cautiously at the pedestal of the undesirable branch and contract forcefully to polish off it . Fern pine originate conelike flowers that develop into fleshy fruit , but it can be pruned at any time . Always bust mitt when handle garden shears .
Step 3
turn out away last ends of twigs or young branches in edict to reduce fern pine size . A terminal bud is a gruelling , circular segment place at the end of a twig , marking the end of that class ’s growth . This trim technique , call sidestep , usually increases the number of shoots and leaves , creating a denser plant .
Step 4
Reach into the canopy and selectively dispatch arm at the " Y " junction with garden shears . This method , called selective thinning , creates a more open , natural - calculate plant life without leaving a " scalped " look . When thinning fern pine , visualize what the plant life will take care like without the arm before making the cut .
Step 5
Cut away the growth of any new limb , call suckers , which will often burgeon forth from the base of the trunk .
Step 6
Remove one of two rub branch that interpose or thwart over each other to avoid next problems . fret branches can lead in lessen airflow and blocked sun , which can lead to the spreadhead of harmful disease .
Tip
When circumvent , cut shoots to several dissimilar levels to produce a more natural , total looking works .
detect the overall shape of the fern pine as you trim ; a decently lop hedge is wider at the base than at the top .
go out clean cuts without torn edge to prevent combat injury to the plant life .
Warning
All parts of the plant are toxicant if run through . Avoid planting it where children and pets play .
