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Norfolk Pine pruning


Question
thanks for your posts to this site.  I just read http://experts.about.com/q/House-Plants-721/Norfolk-Pine.htm
I planted 2 small Norfolk pines about 5 feet apart 2 years ago, sunny spot here in NE Florida.  They are about 5' and 8' tall now and beautiful.  

I want to replant the smaller one in another location if possible.  How can I do this with the least damage to both?

I also want to maintain a consistent height of 8'-10' for a wonderful green fence.  Can I do this by just pruning the terminal leader in summer and treating it with rooting hormone?  

Answer
Norfolk pines do not respond well to pruning the growing leaders. These are not easily pruned because you can't just cut a >frond or tip and expect new growth. In the spring, only prune new buds just when they are beginning to emerge and are still light green in color. Remove just the tip which will include about three soft, needle-like leaves the same way you would go about bud pruning a Juniper. In a few weeks to a month, two new buds should take the place of the missing buds. If you pinch a bud wrong, new growth at the tip will cease. NIPs are one of those trees which you should practice bud pinching on several inexpensive practice plants first to develop an eye for pinching at just the right time. Rooting hormone wil not be needed and will not help.
I would check with a nursery and see what they suggest.

Transplanting a large tree will take a root ball of some size. A proper root ball size is for every inch of trunk diameter dig a 12 inch wide root ball and 6 inch deep. (a 3 inch diameter will need a 36 inch wide and a 18 inch deep root ball). Dig the new hole twice the size of the rootball and fill with potting soil or good top soil. Mulch with 3 inche of mulch. Keep the ground level the same as the orginal root ball.  

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