For Best Results - Use an organic high nitrogen fertilizer 30-10-10 or 20-10-10. Water at night when it is hot every two weeks for the first few months, then go to once a month till the tree goes dormant. Your local nursery can provide this fertilizer for you.
Insects and Disease -The best defense is good soil and proper feeding. If a problem occurs, first check the soil to see if it is too wet. If not, strengthen the soil with compost, minerals, and/or fertilizer. If condition persists, try a diluted Ivory Snow Soap.
The trees will be damaged or killed by external insecticides, fungicides and herbicides sprayed nearby. If you must use these products, spray 20ft. from tree.
Leaf fall - In the fall the leaves will fall. Save them. They are excellent compost.
Full sun preferable. Minimum of 6-8 hours per day. They will not grow well in deep shade.
Well-drained soil - Roots will not tolerate standing water, left in water they will rot. Let soil dry out between watering!
Tree Spacing - Plant no closer than 6' to a walkway or foundation. If planted next to another tree, plant no closer than 5 feet. Recommended distance between trees is 12 feet.
Plant in gallon container upon receiving the tree.
Poor Soil - When planting in poor soil, amend soil with a well drain soil mix.
Hole Size - The hole should be at least two feet across and two to three feet deep with well-drained soil. In moderate draining soil, the larger and deeper the hole, the better.
Shelter and Staking - Where strong winds are a problem, to be safe, stake for first two years. Tie top of stakes with ring of cloth. Do not tie trunk to stakes.
Fencing - If deer are present, protect tree for two years. (wire mesh 4ft to 6ft high)
Extra Fast Growth - Foliar feed at half the recommended dosage every 5-10 days
Mulch or Cultivate - Keep 4ft diameter area around trunk clear of grass. If possible cover the open area with pine bark mulch (3 to 4 inches deep.)
Let leaves fall on their own - Do not remove large leaves, this will slow growth.
Growth/Pruning (will vary with location temperature, care, etc.) The higher you let your branches start, the taller your tree will be. The bud growing above your leaves is a new branch. Pinch this off until you get the height of where your want your first branch to be.
Year 1 - 10 to 15 ft - One vertical stalk, elephant ear size leaves drop in fall. Year 2 - 15 to 20 ft - Spring buds turn into branches with dinner plate leaves. Year 3 - 25 to 27 ft - Flower buds in fall, open in spring, hand size leaves. Year 4 - 29 to 30 ft - Deep roots established, watering requirements are minimal.
Size - Tree height will average 25 to 30 feet for Kawakamii, 80 feet for Elongata and Fortunei. Canopy width will average 20 to 25 feet. Trunk diameter will average 18 to 24 inches. Multiple taproots grow down instead of out, which is excellent for planting near walks (3ft away), structures and in gardens.
Flowering - The tree will flower the second or third spring for 6 to 8 weeks.
Temperature range - From -15 degrees F to 130 degrees depending on the type of tree.
Life spans - Expected life span of a Dragon trees is 80 to 100 years.
Large Seed Pods - Each Spring after the blooms fall, large seedpods will develop. In some cases, the pods will be so heavy that they can weigh young limbs down. If you choose to cut off the pods, it will not hurt your tree. The best time to cut them off is just after the blooms fall.
Very Important - Spring & Summer - Additional Planting Instructions
Each small Paulownia tree you have just received should be watered as soon as you take it out of the shipping container. Plant each tree in a one-gallon clay pot, which contains a sandy loam soil mix. Sometimes, the tree may appear droopy when it first arrives. This is transplant shock. Place tree in the early morning to early afternoon sun. Use B1 (root stimulant). Wait a week. Then fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer mix like 30-10-10, or 20-10-10. Best to fertilize at night. Very important to only water when the soil is dry. Young seedling roots will rot if they stay too wet all the time.
If the temperatures are in the 90's or higher, give the tree only the early morning sun till noon or 1:00 PM for several weeks. This allows the young seedling to adjust.
When the tree starts to budout or put out a new shoot in the pot, be sure to nip off all shoots but one if you want a single trunk tree. If you let more than one shoot grow, the tree will become a multiple trunk tree. Once the tree grows 12 to 18 inches tall, it can be planted in the ground. If your tree does not grow 12 to 18 inches in the " first month of hot weather", it will need to be cut all the way back to the ground. This will reset the fast growth process. If you find you need to do this "reset process," when the new shoots grow back from the top of the root system (2-3 weeks or more) be sure that you nip off all the new shoots that grow back but one. (Follow number 3 instructions)
Placing trees in full sun
When planting, dig a hole two to three feet in depth and two to three feet in diameter. Fill the hole with a good well-drained sandy loam soil mix. You can get this at your local nursery. Place the tree in the center of the hole and shape a mound of soil around the edge of the planting area six to eight inches high and three to four feet in diameter. By doing this, you will create a large water holding area for each tree. This will ensure that the roots grow straight down.
Watering trees
Trees are best watered when the soil is dry. Use a hose or drip line to fill up a three to four foot water holding area (a dirt wall around the tree). By doing this, the water will soak down deeply, helping the taproots to grow down instead of out. If you use a sprinkler system for general watering, be sure to water the tree deeply in addition to the general watering. It is very important for the soil around the roots to dry out between watering!!!
Planting in Middle or Late Summer
If you plant in the middle or late summer, your tree will not have reached a full first year's height (10 to 15 feet). If this is the case, next spring, when each Paulownia tree starts to bud out, it is important to cut the short trunk (less than 10 feet) back flush with the ground. This might sound strange, but if you want a great tree, this is the way to do it. Mid or late summer planting is a good time to plant for growing a big strong root system. Next spring will be the time for growing a tall central trunk. The following spring will be the time for growing the limbs. The trunk of the Paulownia tree will not grow any taller after its limbs start to grow. If you do not take this approach, you will have a shrub like shape rather than a tree with one trunk and canopy. If you want the best results, this pruning technique is the best way. When you cut your tree off early next spring, within a few weeks shoots will come up all around the old trunk area. Choose one for the new trunk, and nip off all of the rest.
Very Important - Fall/Winter into Spring - Additional Planting Instructions
If you receive your tree during fall or winter, your tree will be dormant. The leaves may be yellow and fall off easily. This is normal. You will lose the leaves completely if you have a freeze. Please follow the below instructions:
Place in a gallon container using a sandy loam soil mix.
Water only when soil is completely dry.
Place in full direct sun outside
Bring container in or cover if there is a hard freeze. Place outside during the day where it can get full sun if the temperature warms up. DO NOT LEAVE INSIDE TOO LONG!
If there is torrential rain, place tree under an over hang so it can dry out. Then get it into the sun ASAP.
Do not fertilize until it starts to grow again in spring
In the spring the tree will come out of its dormancy. You will know this because a bud will form. Cut back the stem above this bud if the bud is at ground level.
Please call 707-485-6277 if you experience any problems. Otherwise, the guarantee will be invalid.
The Paulownia Tree Company P.O. Box 417 Talmage, California 95481 E-Mail at: info@dragontrees.com
Phone Orders 800-439-4341 Mon–Sat, 8 AM–5 PM Pacific Time
Customer Service 707-485-6277 Mon–Fri, 8 AM—5 PM Pacific Time
