22 Jul 2020
The Poinciana is a flowering tree and an easy yard favourite in Australia. Its flowers, large and luscious, come in bright red-orange and grow up to eight centimetres long. Its leaves look feathery and come in bright green, growing some 30-50 centimetres long. The Poinciana carries seed pods because it’s a legume. The tree can grow up to 10 metres tall however, the average height is between 3 to 5 metres.
Poinciana Trees originally come from Madagascar. They are a soft timber and are prone to disease and fungi. So generally when pruning a Poinciana Tree, keep your cuts as small as possible so that there is a minimal amount of hardwood exposed with the pruning cut. The hardwood in the branches and the trunk is the most susceptible part of the tree where boras eat the integrity of the timber.
Sometimes it is not ideal to keep the cuts small, particularly if the tree has grown close to power lines and gutters. It is all about how you manage the tree as it is developing. You will notice growth rings on the tree and each growing season they form tissue on the outside. The tree branch is initially sapwood and then branch tissue grows over that each year and it becomes thicker. Sapwood on a Poinciana Tree is about an inch thick on the outside. It eventually becomes hardwood. So when you prune, it will grow over the wound and seal it off which protects it from disease and pets.
Tree Essence recommends that you don’t overlook mulching as it is so important. The root system of a tree is the most important part of the tree, as it is absorbing nutrients and minerals from the soil through the process of Osmosis. Osmosis is how plants are able to absorb water from the soil. Mulching works best if you can obtain a mixture of tree varieties including palm trees. There are different minerals and carbohydrates that come with each species and when these break down, diverse microorganisms are available. A broad spectrum of mulch will give you the best results for maintaining soil moisture content and keeping your tree’s roots cooler in the warmer months so the ground does not dry out. Also adding Seasol organic fertiliser helps strengthen the cell walls of the tree and if you have strong cell walls, it means that the tree has better resistance to disease and pests.
The team at Tree Essence has maintained Poinciana trees in households and business establishments on the Gold Coast areas for years. The Poinciana does require work to maintain its structure and healthy look all year round. To achieve a strong tree structure, we recommend that you prune regularly, most often before Spring regrowth begins. This is necessary because the tree’s branches tend to overextend with the new growth and droop down. Tree pruning helps strengthen the branches and reduces the load on the union of the branch. Pruning the lower branches also provides a shaded area for people to sit under, during the summer months and enjoy the surrounds.
If you want your Poinciana Tree to look healthy and stunning all year round call Tree Essence Arborists on 1300 487 333. For all your tree removal Gold Coast needs including tree trimming, tree lopping and other arborist services, Tree Essence is the business to trust. We also service the Tweed and Byron Bay areas. We look forward to talking to you.
