Paulownia wood is used for boxes and crates.
If it weren't for its height of 40 feet, the paulownia tree could pass for a foxglove variety. It produces similar drooping bell-shaped blooms in lavender. This Chinese native is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5B to 9B, where it can be invasive. That's because paulownia trees self-sow, with each seedpod releasing as many as 2,000 seeds. Therefore, before you plant your own seeds, consider whether you have the open space that cultivating this plant requires, or whether you have the willingness to rake the seedpods and pull new seedlings as they sprout.
Instructions
1. Find a well-drained site in the sun or in partial shade for your seedbed.
2. Hoe the site to remove weeds and grass. Haul away in a wheelbarrow large rocks and plant fragments that interfere with root development. Rake the surface to smooth it out.
3. Broadcast 1 lb. per square yard of a slow-release 14-14-14 fertilizer. Select a micronutrient supplement and apply it to the bed, following the application rates on the product label. Spread 8 oz. of gypsum and 8 oz. of dolomite per square yard over the soil. Irrigate the surface to water the amendments in.
4. Moisten the seedbed surface just before you sow the paulownia seeds. Broadcast them by hand, scattering 1 tsp. of seeds per square yard, after the last spring frost.
5. Cover the seedbed with straw mulch to protect the seeds from the heat and to keep them from blowing away.
6. Irrigate the seedbed superficially up to three times a day to prevent the seeds from drying out and dying. Moisten the soil 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep. Give saplings and trees 1 inch of water a week. It takes as long as two weeks for paulownia seeds to germinate.
7. Thin the seedlings by hand when they're 6 inches tall to the number of trees you want. Maintain a 3-foot area around the young trees grass and weed free. It could be more than five years before your new trees become established and are able to compete with other plants.
Related posts
Use seeds from rye grass to produce a variety of mushrooms.Wandering in wooded areas, you see mushrooms growing on logs, trees and straight out of the ground. Home mushroom cultivators strive to d...
A patch of lawn in the desertA desert landscape for your yard is called a xeriscape. While it looks great from the street or the backyard window, you may want to include a small grassy area for th...
Growing grass under a pine tree isn't impossible; it just takes some ground preparation.If you have pine trees, it is often difficult to plant grass underneath that pine tree. This is a tough area...
Drought tolerant trees flourish in bentonite rich soil.Bentonite is an expansive or "swelling soil," absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate, containing montmorillonite clay minerals that abs...
Clay soil can be difficult to grow grass in.Lawns covered in lush green grass offer homeowners soft ground to walk on and help to keep rain erosion at bay. However, some lawn owners have a problem...
