Which is your preferred method to prune yucca?

[mdsonofthesouth]

I generally prefer the clipping method, but Im starting to like the look of pulling the leaves off. What is your preference?

[iwan]

I have had trunk damage from premature pulling.  I clip and then a year or so later the remnant bases typically pull of easily without damage.  It kind of depends on the species and I don't have a hard rule.  Y. recurvata for example with a dense clustering habit, I just pull (if I pull at all).

I didn't read this carefully, since it was a look question.  For me it still depends on the species, but it comes down to preference and your design aesthetic. 

Edited March 30, 2019 by iwan

[Gonzer]

Having someone else do it.

[mdsonofthesouth]

  On 3/30/2019 at 3:02 PM, iwan said:

I have had trunk damage from premature pulling.  I clip and then a year or so later the remnant bases typically pull of easily without damage.  It kind of depends on the species and I don't have a hard rule.  Y. recurvata for example with a dense clustering habit, I just pull (if I pull at all).

I didn't read this carefully, since it was a look question.  For me it still depends on the species, but it comes down to preference and your design aesthetic. 

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It's for either look or method that you prefer. I like both the bare trunk and clipped look, even shaggy can look good if done right on a trunking yucca. But I'll say pulling them off does not feel good, some of the really old ones just fall off but anything green, even spotty from winter, it's still "too attached".

 

  On 3/30/2019 at 9:04 PM, Gonzer said:

Having someone else do it.

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Lol having yucca gloriosa var lone star with super stiff leaves I can understand this point of view!

[mdsonofthesouth]

Coming along well for being in non native clay! Absolutely LOVE yucca.

[Tracy]

  On 3/29/2019 at 1:18 PM, mdsonofthesouth said:

I generally prefer the clipping method, but Im starting to like the look of pulling the leaves off. What is your preference?

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Since "I" don't have any, but my neighbor does have some growing up and over the fence wandering into my "airspace", my preferred method is the big clippers, heave duty anvil style lopper shears, or saw.  I have been known to trim heads growing my way completely off.

 

  On 3/30/2019 at 9:04 PM, Gonzer said:

Having someone else do it.

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Having my neighbor do it would be my preference, but I would be waiting forever.

Edited April 1, 2019 by Tracy
spelling error. "trip" to "trim"

[mdsonofthesouth]

  On 4/1/2019 at 1:56 PM, Tracy said:

Since "I" don't have any, but my neighbor does have some growing up and over the fence wandering into my "airspace", my preferred method is the big clippers, heave duty anvil style lopper shears, or saw.  I have been known to trim heads growing my way completely off.

 

Having my neighbor do it would be my preference, but I would be waiting forever.

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Thats evil! But I understand it. My neighbor planted a hedge during the buying process of my house so the sellers didn't know or care and I wasn't at the property to protest. Move in and find out that he put the hedge straddling our property line...thankfully for him I like the hedge lol

[Josue Diaz]

It depends on the species. On Yucca elephantipes (and dracaena draco for that matter), I typically pull them off.  For other yucca I typically clip them. 

[Silas_Sancona]

With the exception of sp. like Y. rosata, faxoniana, rigida and a couple others, i tend to prefer Yucca species that stay small and don't require much maintenance. Elephantes is a no- go, Never really a fan of that species.. Dracaena draco, & serrulata look better anyways..

That said, those like the 1st 3 sp ( rosata, rigida, elata and faxoniana, etc ) look best, imo, w/ the skirt cleaned.. Here you kind of have to keep the skirt on bigger Yucca in-check if you don't want to invite various critters that like to hang out in them away. That said, some birds will nest in the skirt of left attached..

Yucca rigida, and faxoniana w/ their skirts..



Y. pallida and endlichiana.. easy to pull dead leaves as needed.

[mdsonofthesouth]

Only yucca I have so far is gloriosa and something that looks like a thin version of gloriosa. I'd love to find a reliable vendor for all kinds of yucca to fill out my garden.

[Laaz]

Fire...

[mdsonofthesouth]

  On 4/2/2019 at 6:54 PM, Laaz said:

Fire...

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If I could downvote.... Lol I love yucca until it's pruning time, thankfully that's only once or twice a year.