Need help with Cypress 'Gold Thread'

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jgsearls Pittsburgh, PA Jun 30, 2005

I just purchased a Cypress 'Gold Thread' because the woman at the nursery assured me that it was a dwarf Cypress. After looking here,

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/79080/index.html

It appears that it grows anywhere from 4-10 feet. Is this going to be a pain to constantly prune this back? I really don't want anything that grows much beyond 3-4'.

Thanks

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8ftbed Zion, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 01, 2005

The heigth is an estimated mature height.... meaning it takes years to attain that under optimal conditions.

So if it's a dwarf, the growth is very slow, maybe 1" per year or so.

I've got one of these and you'll love it.
I'm only getting 1 - 1.5" of growth a year. Besides, with their growth habit it would be easy to snip it here and there if needed.

Post #1591142
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jgsearls Pittsburgh, PA Jul 01, 2005

Thanks very much. I went ahead and planted it and I'll keep an eye on it...the woman at the nursery wasn't SURE that it was dwarf but if I keep snipping it down...it'll stay that way (I hope)

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designart Schwenksville, PA(Zone 6a) Jul 01, 2005

True, they are not fast growing, but they really can't effectively be pruned either. They grow upright and have pendulus branches with beautiful foliage. However, they if you prune them, the weeping habit is lost and they never look the same again.

Make sure your properly site these plants before planting. The difficult thing with these plants is that they are usually sold when young and very low to the ground. As a result, many people plant them in front of windows or along walkways only to have them out of scale within three years. Since they do not respond well to pruning like Boxwood and Yews do, you really need to be careful where you place them. Make sure you allow them a space of 5' in width and at least 4' or more in height. You can always fill in with annuals or short-lived plants until they mature. NEVER PRUNE OR PLANT NEAR WALKWAYS!!!

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Mobi Denver, CO(Zone 6a) Jul 02, 2005

Yo shouldn't fertilize it either and that will keep the growth at a minimum.

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8ftbed Zion, IL(Zone 5a) Jul 03, 2005

It will eventually develop a leader to attain some height but you shouldn't be afraid of a little judicious pruning. If you study the art of Penjing (Chinese miniaturization pruning that Bonsai came from), you can use the same principles with landscape specimens. Seems like every year at least one of the gardening shows or magazines show cases someone with a postage stamp yard with trees having mature form but kept at a fraction of the size. So it can be done with both deciduous and coniferous trees and bushes.

Go look at your local botanical gardens.

a mature, managed specimen http://www.bluesterling.com/pisifera%20goldthread.htm

http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/product1641.html?SSAID=11448

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