How cold weather hardy are smoke trees?
These are hardy down to zone 4. Here is an article for more information on the care of the trees: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/smoke-tree/growing-smoke-trees.htm
I've seen plenty of advice on this , but all of it says that if I prune the smoke bush it won't flower next season. I'm wondering if there's a time I can tip prune my recently planted 2 young smoke bushes to maintain a bushy shape and still get growth that will flower next season. I'm in Sydney Australia. Frost is not an issue but extreme heat in summer is. It is currently summer but no inflorescence is visible yet. There is new growth appearing which might be the inflorescence coming. Picture attached. Maybe I should prune lightly in winter and sacrifice next summer'ss flowers to establish a bushy habit?
This article provides the answers you are seeking: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/prune-smoke-bush-42068.html
when to prune for a bush. i moved into the house at then end of march last year and it had been pruned hard.the result was a tall but widely splayed, spindly tree with not much foliage. when should i prune and how much to make it a smaller compact size?
Perhaps the real question is whether it makes sense to try to control the size of a shrub that naturally grows to 15 ft by 15 ft. Pruning should be done in the dormant season as the bush flowers on wood made in the new season. Use heading cuts - cutting branches back to where a side branch comes out that is 2/3 the size of the branch being removed. Alternately, remove the branch at a main trunk. Cut at the branch collar or 1/4 inch above a leaf bud. Indiscriminate cutting will yield numerous suckers, watersprouts and weak terminal growth. Don't remove more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the overall structure during any one year. Remove suckers and watersprouts when they appear.
I live in central Va and my smoke tree planted last year and it 4 feet tall has not starting to budding yet. Is this normal?
Yes, this can take a year or two, and sometimes longer to flower. With some patience, this tree will bloom profusely with little care. This article will give you more information on these: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/smoke-tree/growing-smoke-trees.htm
How much water do they need?
This will only need watered when the top two inches of soil are almost completely dry. This will avoid any fungal infection and ensure that it remains moist enough, but not dry or wet.
This article will give you more information on the care of these: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/smoke-tree/growing-smoke-trees.htm
It’s May 8th and my purple smoke tree still doesn’t have leaves. I think I see buds but I’m not sure. I am in Minnesota and we had an especially brutal winter with a blizzard in early April, but it is in a protected spot. I’m not sure if it’s related but last fall it never dropped it’s leaves. Aside from that it is about 4 yrs old and has always been beautiful and without problems.
I'm also in MN and we had a brutal winter!
Smoke Bush are hardy in zone 4a, though I would say we were well below normal for most of the winter. Your shrub may not have been able to sustain the temperatures.
Check the branches; to they bend or snap off and break?
Prune away the dead branches. It's possible the shrub roots could still be alive. Continue to give it time and if you see not signs of leaf out, it's time to replace.
I'm watching a few things in my own garden, but willing to give them more time!
Good luck!
I wish they had written something about what zone this plant grows in. Of course I'll look on google to get all my questions answered, but still I would have liked to know if I could even plant this weird tree in my yard in TN. (I've never seen anything like it!) https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/smoke-tree/growing-smoke-trees.htm Thanx!