Leaning Flowering Currant
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Fern
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: Apr-19-2005 at 9:16am
I have a native red flowering currant that I need help with. About three years ago it got a root rot disease, maybe verticillium wilt, and it all died except for one branch that, to my surprise, recovered. The reason I'm mentioning this disease is that I'm a little scared to mess with it because isn't it true that any wounding of it could let the disease in again?
The problem is the remaining branch comes out of the ground at about a 20 degree angle. It grew some branches upwards at about a 40 degree angle. This winter I cut the original branch back to the srongest upwards branch. So now the trunk [the original surviving branch, which is now about an inch caliber] comes out of the ground at a 20 degree angle for a foot, then there is a 3 ft tall branch at a 40 degree angle. Can I leave it like this or will it fall over someday? I have fairly heavy soil. Should I try propping it up? I would rather not move it because of the disease problem. Or can pruning it someway help? Maybe just keeping it a smaller bush to reduce the weight?
Fern
mdvaden
Location: Oregon, Western
Posted: Apr-19-2005 at 3:47pm
It sounds like you have the right plan. Every flowering currant I've ever had (many) has been a bit heavy on one side or on several sides.
In most cases, I follow a longer limb back to a shorter one, or one heading where I want it to go, and make the cut. In other words, reducing weight, or steering it.
So what you described sounds familiar.
In fact, I've been staring out the window at mine for weeks wondering which limb will start to droop or lean first.
Those happen to be one of the longest blooming spring flowering shrubs. I'll probably always have one no matter where we live.
M.D. Vaden
Fern
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: Apr-21-2005 at 6:29am
Thanks. It's good to know they often lean so maybe its no big deal. I will continue on with the plan and not bother trying to prop it.
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