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Paulownia
Tree Growing Requirements
Not enough has been said about growing these plants successfully. If the Paulownia is being grown for timber, it is essential to grow straight long 'Poles' in the first growing season. Deep rip the area chosen for the plot, and then rotary hoe it. The use of raised beds is optional , the main advantage of raised beds is improved drainage, increased soil depth and warming of soil in early spring. Growers who have dry, well-drained soil in a warm area prefer not to use raised beds. Simply plant directly into the plot. Plant young Paulownia no less than 1 metre apart in straight rows. The ideal time for planting is after the last frost in October-November. Just before planting , all trays should be saturated with water. Water is critically important in getting plants up and growing. The easiest way to water plants is through an irrigation system. A product called T-tape is readily available in shops, is easy to set up and very cheap to buy. Plants need constant attention with watering. They prefer once a day for the first few weeks. Large soaking is generally better for the growth of the plant than short frequent watering. When establishing your own nursery site, it is important to have well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight. Additionally, Paulownia like to grow in a sheltered area protected from the strong winds |
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Fertiliser - See Complete Fertiliser Weeding can become a full time job depending on the size of the nursery. Constant attention should be made to weeding the plants. If not weeded regularly, weeds can become a big problem. Keep the plot weed free through hoeing or hand weeding. Some growers use Round Up for killing weeds around young plants, I do not. However, you will be relieved to know that the water and fertiliser requirements of Paulownia in subsequent years will not be as high as the first year. |
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In spring and early summer, there are bugs that attack Paulownias, the main one being caterpillars. They attack young soft leaves and can damage young plants severely if they get to the very top of the young plant. This will cause deformation of the plant. Spray against them with Carbaryl Liquid Insecticide or similar. You can help spray to stick on more effectively by mixing it up with water and very small amount of dishwashing liquid. When growing plants for the purpose of timber, a straight trunk is achieved by pinching out lateral branches as they emerge. Care must be taken not to remove large leaves. By understanding these few important steps correctly, there is nothing stopping you from growing tall straight Pole's of which you can justly feel proud. Obviously, the more effort you put into it in your first year, the better results you will achieve in years to come. Pole Planting In winter, all Paulownlia's Trees lose their leaves and become dormant. This is the time for transplanting your Poles into the permanent site. Whether you dig up your plants by hand or machine, try to preserve as much of the root system as possible. Remove the soil clinging to and between the root system until they are exposed. Trim the roots and get rid of all the broken parts of the root system. It is important again that the permanent site is well draining and the water table is below 1.5M. Deep rip well the rows you are planting, because the looser the ground, the better the growth. When growing Paulownlias for the timber, trees can be planted in many different spacings. Basically, the more sunlight Paulownia gets, the better. I have seen Paulownias growing from 60 trees per acre to 200 trees per acre. I myself, grow them in rows of 6M by 4M. If trees are grown for shade or fodder, trees should be grown at least 8 to 10M apart to ensure a large canopy for maximum leaf drop. Watering and fertilising is important again during spring and summer, but not as frequently as first year. I use T-tape for irrigation and use it on both sides of the tree. During summer in high rainfall areas, there is no need for irrigation at all, unless it is used for liquid fertilising. By implementing these simple methods correctly, there is no reason why you should not collect 1 cubic metre of millable timber per tree in 8-1 0 years. I have written these few words to provide the potential grower with some background about Paulownia Tree growing, and assist you to get your first trees up, growing and off to a robust start. Wishing you very happy Paulownia growing. |
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Principal
Joe Virtanen
- Australian Paulownia Trees and Plantations
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