[Arid_gardener] Re: Care of Yellow Bells

[Olin Miller]

There are several cultivars grown in the valley - the most common is Tecoma
stans 'augustata'.  As far as pruning, it depends on what you are trying to
do.  The plant has a tendency to become "leggy" with no foliage on the lower
parts of the shoots.  The best way I found to control this is to wait until
spring when it begins to leaf out (it is semi or cold deciduous), then pinch
the foliage back to where you want it to grow.  To control size or height,
it works best for me to remove the tallest shoots at the base.  If you are
concerned about the copious seed pods, you can reduce the amounts by heading
back the spent blossoms before the pods develop of wait until they develop,
then trim them off.  The yellow bells will bloom all summer long so this
would be a continuous task.  You can also rejuvenate the plant by pruning
the whole thing at ground level.  It will come back.

If you feel you need to fertilize, I would suggest ammonium sulfate in the
early spring just before new growth.  I have never found fertilization
necessary.  It just promotes more growth and makes for more maintenance.

The plants can get by with very little water but benefit from occasional
deep soakings in the summer.  But for the best blossoming, regular
irrigation is necessary, as in twice monthly in the spring and summer.

For over 20 years, we had a 150 foot 'augustata'  hedge grown from seeds
with the plants spaced at 5 feet which is too close.  After they became too
crowded we pruned every other plant to the ground, then after a few years
when they recovered, we would prune out the others and did this continuously
over the years.  Worked for me.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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Original Message ----- 
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 11:26 AM,  85351, rmnoben at msn.com
>...
> I am interested in knowing the best month to trim, Arizona Yellow Bells,
> also type of fertilizer.