Agave in Desert Landscaping

[EastBayPalms]

I have a little Agave xeriscaped corner of my front yard that I really like, but needs some clean up..  The big guy is starting to grow over the little ones around it, and not sure if I should prune the big one, dig up the little ones, or both.  Not a gardening expert, so appreciate any help.

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 3/6/2021 at 7:00 AM, EastBayPalms said:

I have a little Agave xeriscaped corner of my front yard that I really like, but needs some clean up..  The big guy is starting to grow over the little ones around it, and not sure if I should prune the big one, dig up the little ones, or both.  Not a gardening expert, so appreciate any help.

 

 

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If you take out the big one, the little guys will become big boys soon enough, and produce tons more little ones.. These particular Agave are notorious offsetters..  Numerous other ( and more reasonably sized ) Agave to research if you decide to axe the whole thing completely. Could also prune out all the offsets and trim the lowest eaves on the big one.. but it's gonna be painful, and more kiddos will appear later.. Personally avoid these kinds of Agave like the plague.  Agave Weevil magnets as well.

[Gonzer]

In my experience this is another plant that should be planted far away from foot traffic. The leaf tips are lethal, the sap from cut leaves is highly irritating and also (to some) gives off a noxious odor. The leaves also wreak havoc in compost chipper/shredders as the fibrous makeup gums up the works. In other words, not a cool plant for the average garden.

[ahosey01]

  On 3/6/2021 at 7:00 AM, EastBayPalms said:

I have a little Agave xeriscaped corner of my front yard that I really like, but needs some clean up..  The big guy is starting to grow over the little ones around it, and not sure if I should prune the big one, dig up the little ones, or both.  Not a gardening expert, so appreciate any help.

 

 

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My wife is the opposite of @Silas_Sancona in that she loves the pups. She’s always breaking them off and repotting them and growing them up or giving them away to people that visit the garden.

my advice is either take out the big guy and leave the little guys, or take out the little guys, keep a couple and wait til the big guy flowers. They’re monocarpic so once it flowers, it dies.

Also, my oldest daughter has a crazy skin reaction to being stabbed by the tips on these. Whenever she gets a poke, the entire limb swells and itches for 2-3 days.  Personally I think it’s otherwise harmless and even kind of funny but she doesn’t share my sense of humor!! Be warned if you are like her.

Edited March 6, 2021 by ahosey01

[Looking Glass]

If you like the agave, why not just chop the pups out as they pop up.  I’ve got a couple blue American agave and some Caribbean agave.  They all pup freely and frequently.  I started potting pups, but they grow so fast and more and more come.  It’s just too many.  Now I just chop out the pups and toss them.