We've changed the name of this board from 'Greenfingered MoneySaving' to simply 'Gardening'. This is to help make it easier to find for the horticulturally inclined. The URL remains unchanged for the time being, so all links to the board are unaffected.

Too tall plant

Options
Vicky123
Vicky123 Posts: 3,404 Forumite
First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
in Gardening
I have an outdoor plant that's getting way too tall.
No idea what it is but it looks like some kind of palm, very pointy leafs and not much else, just a big mass of pointy green.
How do I cut it down because obviously it'll look weird with blunt ends.
I know nothing at all about gardening and plants so thinking maybe it should just be pulled out altogether.
Thanks

Comments

  • Ganga
    Ganga Posts: 4,159 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Options
    A picture might help other identify it for you.
    ITS NOT EASY TO GET EVERYTHING WRONG ,I HAVE TO WORK HARD TO DO IT!
  • unrecordings
    unrecordings Posts: 2,017 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    Options
    Some kind soul posted a link in another thread to an app that might help:

    PlantNet app
    https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/plantnet/id600547573
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.plantnet&hl=en_GB

    Why am I in this handcart and where are we going ?
  • MysteryMe
    MysteryMe Posts: 3,054 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Options
    Find out what it is first, sizeable palms can be very expensive to buy, you may be able to sell it if you can carefully dig it up.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,333 Forumite
    First Post Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary
    Options
    Possibly a yucca? Once you know what it is you can look into pruning it.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • Vicky123
    Vicky123 Posts: 3,404 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Options
    theoretica wrote: »
    Possibly a yucca? Once you know what it is you can look into pruning it.
    It looks like a yucca going by the photo's I've looked at online, but no flowers, just loads of green pointy leaves/fonds. Been there about 10 yrs, it has brown dead ones that pull out easily on the bottom but it's starting to get really high and wild looking.
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    Options
    If it's gone up on a single stem, then it might not be a yucca, but possibly a cordyline.
  • Carrot007
    Carrot007 Posts: 4,534 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Options
    Vicky123 wrote: »
    It looks like a yucca going by the photo's I've looked at online, but no flowers, just loads of green pointy leaves/fonds. Been there about 10 yrs, it has brown dead ones that pull out easily on the bottom but it's starting to get really high and wild looking.


    Remove all the dead ones and it will flower next or in a couple of years. The unloved Yucca's here when I moved in did.
  • Vicky123
    Vicky123 Posts: 3,404 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Options
    Davesnave wrote: »
    If it's gone up on a single stem, then it might not be a yucca, but possibly a cordyline.
    It could be that, whatever it is the leaves are long and pointy and way too tall now, is it possible to cut it? I'm guessing not because it would look strange but it's very close to the house and taking over a wall so need to deal with it.
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    Options
    If it is a cordyline, this is how to prune it back:
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/when-can-i-prune-a-cordyline/



    More questions and answers here:


    http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/01/08/cordylines_feature.shtml
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    First Anniversary First Post Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 10 October 2019 at 6:51AM
    Options
    I agree it's most likely going to be a Cordyline (flowers are borne on stalks that hang away from the stem), this plant also gets called a Yucca (flowers borne on stiff stems and are large, creamy coloured flowers), a palm tree, and a Phormium (no flowers), but usually it is just a Cordyline !


    They self seed very easily under the right conditions, so nothing special that needs to be treasured, and are easy to remove from their site.
    Harsh winters may see its stems die but new shoots will be sent up from underground when it's milder again.
    Pulling away the dead fronds and then digging it out is fairly easy.


    Do a search of the above plants and see which you have.
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 343.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 250.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.9K Spending & Discounts
  • 235.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 608.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 173.2K Life & Family
  • 248.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.9K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards