Yucca plants grow in parts of the Caribbean, in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States and in Mexico’s desert highlands and plateaus. Prune any brown, dead yucca leaves at their base. Can I cut the trunk and replant the top of the tree to save it? With the branches and stems removed, use a shovel to dig a hole about 3 feet around the stump and 3 to 4 feet deep into the ground to cover the yucca’s large root network. Make the pruning cut just below the flower head. Yucca plants can live in all seasons and many climate zones. Here’s how to trim a red hot poker plant when you are deadheading. Yucca plants are great indoor plants, but they can grow too tall and need to be pruned to fit. If red yucca does not have enough room to spread to its full height and width, consider transplanting it to a spot where it will have ample room to grow. Any ideas greatly appreciated. With just the occasional prune, Yuccas are very easy to look after and strike new plants from. Your trunk will easily slice in half with a moderate amount of force. Instructions. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Prune any pups (small red yucca plants) growing out of the base of the yucca on the end of a thin stem. While pruning is not required for yucca plants, it helps the plant stay in great health all year. Reach into the center of the red yucca plant with long-handled loppers, and cut the flower spike off at the base when the flower has faded. Dead growth will make the yucca tree look unkempt and unattractive and may hinder healthy new growth. Firstly, Red Yucca is not a real Yucca! Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durabl… Set the halves on the sidewalk, in the grass, or on a table. Snip off dead or winter-damaged foliage from the interior of the plant with hand pruners. Step 2 Cut damaged and dead stems off the yucca plant, removing only the stems displaying noticeable signs of age and/or weakness. Cut off the lower leaves with a blade if you want to remove its "skirt. " The bottom leaves are called the yucca’s “skirt.” Start at the bottom of the plant, and begin cutting off leaves using a knife, blade, pruning shears, or scissors. Each are pruned slightly differently. Make the pruning cut at the base of the stem. Pruning isn't necessary for outdoor yuccas, but you can use the same pruning method there as well. Do not “pineapple” prune Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens Do not prune. I cut it and after drying it for a day, I rolled some moist tissue paper around it. A hardy plant that is drought- and cold-tolerant, red yucca sports grassy, clumping foliage and bright flowers that bring color and texture to the landscape. Prune the yucca plant in the late summer when it has finished blooming and the flowers are dead. Butler began blogging, editing and writing in 2000. How to Prune a Yucca Plant. Full sun. If over-watered, the leaves will die or become discolored. Leave as little stump as possible. Spread a 3-inch layer of gravel mulch over the soil surrounding red yucca plants to insulate the soil, increase moisture retention and deter the growth of weeds. The plant does not respond well to hard prunes, and the foliage may not grow back. Sanitize your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol before and after you use them, as well as when you switch between plants. Reach into the center of the red yucca plant with long-handled loppers, and cut the flower spike off at the base when the flower has faded. The halfway mark can be a rough estimate rather than an exact measurement. You can give giving the yucca plants fertilizer 2-3 times a year for best results, though it is not required. The only way a yucca plant can survive a winter is if it is a mild one. But you can help your red yucca maintain its ornamental beauty by making a few pruning cuts during the growing season. Based in Houston, Texas, Meg Butler is a professional farmer, house flipper and landscaper. By using our site, you agree to our. Prune the yucca's flowering stem once it dries out and becomes brown and brittle. Because they have an extensive root system, it is virtually impossible to remove the entire network. They are now in the community dump. Yucca flaccida 'Golden Sword' As long as it is well … And, like most drought-hardy plants, red yucca will need virtually no pruning during its lifetime. This is not to be rushed. Pruning isn’t necessary for outdoor yuccas, though it makes for an easy way to keep it from completely overpowering the yard. Yucca trees are low maintenance and easily adaptable, making them widely popular houseplants. Yucca Soil. Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) is a grass-like ornamental often grown as an accent plant in the home landscape. You may prune before the plant blooms, though yucca trees are most commonly pruned after they bloom. Support wikiHow by Pruning yucca plants is a quick and simple process. But Where Does Yucca Grow? Get the proven playbook to heal a broken heart. Make your cuts as close as possible to the yucca's trunk. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If your indoor yucca does eventually outgrow its space, it can be cut back in early spring. Dasylirion wheeleri No pruning needed. Yuccas are very modern plant to use both indoors and outside. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. A general rule of thumb is to count to 5 for every one gallon of pot size. Water your plants again in about 10 days to 2 weeks. Clump division is the preferred method because although the plant is easy to grow from seeds, it often takes several years to flower. Above all, Yucca is a bush highly cultivated in the Americas. You can also push the shoots straight in the ground and they will usually take and start growing from there. My yucca has root rot. Start by trimming the leaves at the bottom, which are known as the yucca skirt. When it comes to low-maintenance plants, red yucca is first on the list. Red or yellow yucca Hesperaloe parviflora Pruning is not recommended. It grows well. ), which die after flowering. If you leave the pup in place, it will eventually root and form a new adult yucca plant in the bed. Prune any pups (small red yucca plants) growing out of the base of the yucca on the end of a thin stem. Yes, the new shoots are very hardy. Make sure the plant is straight and centered in its new pot. If your yucca plant is getting too big for its pot, you can cut it in half and replant both parts separately. Make sure that you are still providing your plant with cooler temperatures, just not freezing. Prune the red yucca's flower heads once they brown and die. Each flower bud will produce a seed pod containing many flat, black seeds. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. If the yucca tree does not receive enough sunlight, the leaves will start to stretch and look wilted. On my yucca there was already the beginnings of roots on the stem over the rot, like little rice corns. When the roots were half a cm I potted it. Most Watched . Stop removing leaves about halfway up the tree or when you like the way the yucca looks. Yucca leaves are sharp. This article has been viewed 72,900 times. This way, you avoid any cross contamination. Similar to yucca plants, the red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) produces dainty bell-shaped red or dark pink flowers on the end of tall, 5-ft. (1.5 m) stems. Those were in the flower bed. On my side , between my son pulling with his truck, and my digging, there is still a huge root. So, now that the misleading common name is fully exposed, perhaps there should be a move to more correctly call this plant the “Rose-Coral Yucca Imposter”. She has an A.A. in journalism and a B.A. And secondly, the flowers are not really red either. Removing the leaves will bring the plant back to health. This can be done by simply cutting off the top section of a trunk or stem. Your pot should easily fit the roots of your plant and have some extra room for it to grow. If the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) feel dry, lightly water the plants. There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. I shoveled about 15 out. The red yucca plant is drought tolerant and is suitable for planting in borders, containers, and Mediterranean gardens. References. Yucca flowers are edible. % of people told us that this article helped them. Dividing yuccas to control their growth works on the same principle. However, regrowth is never guaranteed. Well, once the flowers have faded, just prune back the flowering stalks. Tall spikes hold deep rose-pink flowers almost year-round; effective plant for rock garden, landscape accent, or in containers. Keep in mind the best time to prune yuccas is in the early spring, so you can also choose to trim your plants then if you'd like. You can use sand as an alternative to help maintain soil drainage. To kill an unwanted yucca plant, use a saw or pruning shears to cut the plant down to its stump so you can more easily see where you need to begin digging. The lopped off top section can be re-potted as well, but again, success can be unreliable. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) is a grass-like ornamental often grown as an accent plant in the home landscape. I have new shoots coming along the yucca trunk. Yucca is a perennial shrub characterized by its robust, sword-shaped leaves. You can eat them raw or after. But like yucca, it grows well in hot arid areas. As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. Yuccas grow slowly and develop a trunklike stem, whereas century plants lack stems and remain a rosette of leaves. Remember that the best time to prune your yucca is in the spring prior to the growing season, since pruning helps control their growth. Although called Red Yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora is more closely related to the Agaves than the Yuccas, and its showy blooms, carried on long, arching stalks, are generally rosy-pink or salmon.A native of the Chihuahuan desert of northern Mexico, the plant is heat and drought tolerant and recommended for USDA hardiness zones 5 to 11. Simply use garden scissors or pruners and snip off the stem of the plant just below a faded blossom. You can tell your plant has outgrown its pot when the root is not far from the outer edge of your pot. You only need to prune the plant once a year, and only if it bloomed that year. The Yucca plant, when kept as a houseplant, needs to be watered moderately during its growth period in spring and summer and sparingly during its resting period in fall and winter. Seed grown. Red yucca, also known as hummingbird yucca, is a perennial plant valued for its large, ornamental flowers, attractive foliage, drought tolerance and ease of care. This article has been viewed 72,900 times. You can also find shrub […] Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Backyard Gardener; Red Yucca; Jeff Schalau; July 2002, Fine Gardening: Hesperaloe Parviflora (Red Yucca), Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County: Backyard Gardener: Red Yucca: Drought Tolerant and Colorful, Arizona State University: Hesperaloe Parviflora, University of California at Davis Arboretum: Arboretum All-Stars: Hesperaloe Parviflora. All Rights Reserved. Cutting away damaged leaves is especially helpful if the yucca plant is struggling. Make sure you use well-draining potting soil. Yahoo Life Videos. Alternatively, leave the yucca skirt on if you like how it looks, since the lower leaves don’t harm the plant. Step 1: Remove the yucca from the soil Remove the yucca from its container if it gets too tall. Make the pruning cut at the very base of the stem. Always wear gloves and safety glasses when cutting the yucca plants. TIP:Thurber advises, "Yucca plants grow in two forms, tree-like or in a rosette. Can I just cut them off and not damage the main trunk? The tough beauty – Red Yucca. The Yucca shrub thrives in Mexico, Guatemala, Baja California, Southwestern United States, and Alberta. In What Type of Soil Should You Plant a Yucca? Do not shear. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? And, like most drought-hardy plants, red yucca will need virtually no pruning during its lifetime. "I trimmed my outdoor yucca plants as you suggested, and they look great with a healthy look.". Yuccas may be easily confused with century plants (Agave spp. Yuccas that grow in tree form can be pruned to cont… Cut them off as close to the plant as possible and until you get about halfway up. They may naturally fall off, but this will help maintain the plant's health. Dried flower stalks can be removed. Cosmetic pruning is mostly based on personal preference. Yucca Desert Spoon Yucca sp. All you need to do is to prune off dead flower stalks in the fall. Purchase a container at a home and garden store. **So how should you prune Red Yucca? You can still cut away damaged or dying leaves. Also native to southwestern America, it can actually be planted side by side the red yucca for a showstopping, bi-colored appearance. in history from New York University. Consider using cacti and palm soil blends, though they are not required. Water the plants once every 10 days. Even if you cut the plant down, surviving roots will send up new shoots. After back filling and lightly compacting the 50/50 mix of existing soil and compost give the Texas Red Yucca a good deep watering. You can cut these leaves away as desired. Think twice about cutting the top off a yucca plant, as it can create a rather ugly plant for a few years. If you want to harvest the seed, wait until the pods dry completely on the plant, then cut off the entire stalk and break the pods open to collect the seeds. An evergreen perennial, best used with other desert-like plants. Wear long-sleeved clothing and gloves to protect yourself. For tips on how to replant a trimmed yucca plant, read on! Remove unwanted leaves from both indoor and outdoor plants, or shorten your potted yuccas. See All. Why are the leaves on my yucca plant turning brown? blooming. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. The older plant is sort of on the border line of properties. It produces large, trumpet-like yellow flowers that … The succulent grows in clumps of grass-like, blue … Plant in an area that will accommodate mature size. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Remove any dried flower spikes at their base in winter. After your yucca blooms, cut the flower stalk about 4 inches from the end. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Red yucca prefers full sun, but can take part shade. Yucca plants are great indoor plants, but they can grow too tall and need to be pruned to fit. since it only has to care for healthy leaves once the others have been cut Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.plantdelights.com/blogs/articles/yucca-plants-tips-for-growing, http://howto.yellow.co.nz/home-garden/garden-and-outdoors/yucca-care/, https://plantcaretoday.com/yucca-plant.html, https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Take-Care-of-a-Yucca-Plant, https://www.gardenershq.com/Yucca-plant.php, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. How To Propagate Red Yucca. The plant also has white flowers you can spot from a distance. The yellow yucca plant is closely related to the red yucca plant. You essentially get an additional plant for free if you cut them and replant both! As for the babies, I believe I have that job done. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The appearance of the yucca fruit varies by the type of yucca plant. Pups can be dug up and replanted to propagate red yucca. Yucca plants develop a “skirt” of lower leaves much like palms trees. For tips on how to replant a trimmed yucca plant, read on! Despite what its name suggests, Red yucca is not a true yucca. Remove any dead or damaged leaves by hand at the end of summer, gently plucking them off the plant. Yucca plants are easy to grow and don’t require much water. Reach into the center of the red yucca plant with long-handled loppers, and cut the flower spike off at the base when the flower has faded. Touch the soil on top to determine when it needs to be watered. Moderate grower to 3 to 4 feet tall and wide; flower stalks to 4 to 6 feet. They are native to warm, dry areas, but many species adapt well to urban environments and cold climates. Most of the water you put on the plant at first will run away from the plant until the soil is soaked. However, prune the old flower stalks in summer. Don’t prune the foliage like the homeowner did in the photo above – why create more maintenance then is needed? Allowing it to dry out in between watering is okay in the wintertime. How to Prune a Yucca Plant. unlocking this expert answer. One way of propagating yuccas is to cut the rhizomes with baby plants from the main root. During the winter, cut back on the moisture for your yucca soil in between each watering. I have done this successfully. Last Updated: February 20, 2020 Yucca leaves are often sharp. Some resemble a green egg plant, and others look like wrinkled bell peppers. Keep the yucca plant away from sidewalks and high traffic areas so they don't cut anyone. If you have children or pets, pick a location away from their play area. To prune a yucca plant, all you’ll need is a knife or some pruning shears. New offsets should begin to form at the cut section. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Although the plant typically spreads on its own through self-seeding, it is grown from seeds or propagated by clump division. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 72,900 times. Yucca plants will shrivel and wrinkle if they do not get enough water. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. It looks like bamboo in the mess. When not busy learning about homes and appliances she's sharing that knowledge. You can also transplant the plant into a larger pot if you don't want to cut it. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/aid9800239-v4-728px-Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"