Timing and Techniques for Transplanting and Pruning Osmanthus Trees

The osmanthus tree is an evergreen tree of the Oleaceae family, widely planted in parks, botanical gardens, along roadsides and in courtyards, and if you want it to grow well, you must remember the transplanting and pruning times well, and of course master the techniques too.

1. A basic introduction to the osmanthus tree

1. Varieties of the osmanthus tree

At present, 32 osmanthus varieties have been preliminarily identified. Some are classified by flower color, some by leaf shape, and some by flowering period, but based on the traditional classification method and its application in horticultural production, four cultivar groups of osmanthus have been identified and organized, namely:

Four Seasons Osmanthus: osmanthus of the Four Seasons Osmanthus strain flowers from September to March of the following year, and there are also varieties such as Yueyuegui and Rixianggui that bloom in all four seasons.

Dangui: Dangui has a darker flower color, blooms in autumn, and has a strong fragrance, and its leaves are also relatively thick.

Jingui: Jingui has golden-yellow flowers and a rich floral fragrance, and usually blooms in autumn.

Yingui: Yingui has flowers ranging from creamy yellow to lemon yellow and a rich fragrance; it blooms in autumn but does not bear fruit.

2. The value of the osmanthus tree

The osmanthus tree is evergreen all year round, with luxuriant branches and leaves and a fragrant scent. It is a good tree species for planting in gardens and courtyards and can be planted in combination with buildings, mountains and rocks; the osmanthus tree has a certain resistance to the harmful gases sulfur dioxide and hydrogen fluoride, making it a good tree species for planting in industrial and mining areas; in addition, besides being ornamental, the flowers of the osmanthus tree can also be eaten, used to make wine and used as medicine.

2. Transplanting and pruning times and techniques for the osmanthus tree

(1) Transplanting time and techniques for the osmanthus tree

1. Osmanthus trees can be transplanted during the semi-dormant period of a healthy tree. For example, in the Jiangnan region, transplanting is done from after Mid-Autumn Festival to the end of winter of the following year (from mid-September to around February 15 of the following year, except during freezing snowy weather); it can also be done during the plum rain season; in South China and Hainan, it should be transplanted in November-December; in North China and Shaanxi (except the Hanzhong region), it should be done in April-June and early to mid-September, and autumn transplanting should be no later than mid-October.

2. Before transplanting, dig the planting hole at the new site in advance, and at the same time clean out impurities and stones from the soil and mix in ferrous sulfate in proportion, which both disinfects and increases soil fertility.

3. Keep only one third of the original branches and prune away the rest to reduce water evaporation. The osmanthus tree to be planted should be planted with its original soil, and the planting depth should be 10 to 15 cm higher than the original ground level. Finally, fill the planting hole completely, firm it down, build a berm, provide support, and water thoroughly the first time.

4. Generally, water once more three or four days after planting, and water once again the following spring, then when the average temperature reaches 20 degrees, spray foliar fertilizer and fungicide once every half month.

(2) Pruning time and techniques for the osmanthus tree

1. In southern regions, prune osmanthus in January-February. At this time the temperature is relatively low, most osmanthus trees enter dormancy, growth is very slow, and heavy pruning has little effect on them and will not affect the next year's growth and flowering; in northern regions, pruning can be done from the end of October to early November.

2. Under normal circumstances, if the osmanthus tree produces overly dense branches and leaves, they can be pruned appropriately; if it is heavy pruning, two pruning methods can be chosen: positioning pruning and reduction pruning.

3. For positioning pruning, you must first have a general concept of the shape of the osmanthus tree to be pruned, and prune after it is determined; the specific shape for pruning can be chosen according to your own preferences.

4. For reduction pruning, the ratio between the backup branches and the cut-off trunk should be reasonable, and the direction and angle of the buds should be well controlled; when reduction pruning, cut as short as possible rather than leaving it permanently.

The above is an introduction to the transplanting and pruning times and techniques for osmanthus trees. When pruning, be sure to choose the appropriate time and method, so that you can get beautiful osmanthus flowers.