The Glowing Horizons® loropetalum are a true gardener's plant with attributes that make them easy to grow. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Can be grown as a screen or mass planting, or trained into espalier, topiary, or small tree forms.
· Dig a planting hole twice as large as the root ball. · Remove plant from container and place in planting hole.
· Level top of root ball with the ground.
· Backfill.
· Water.
· Mulch.
· Keep moist until established.
Pruning is not required for the Glowing Horizons® loropetalum, as they have a good natural form, although you may want to prune to develop or maintain a desired shape or size, following spring flowering.
The espalier process requires significant attention. Once you have decided your desired surface (usually trellis, gate or wall) and design, the plant must be pruned and trained. To successfully train your loropetalum, be careful to bend and train growth when it is young, new and flexible. Using soft string (or a twist tie) attach branches to your chosen surface. Attachments should be checked at least twice annually, and loosened (to avoid constricting growth) or reattached as needed. Remove extraneous branches. Branch tips should not be pruned until they have completed the design. Don't forget to remove unwanted new-growth shoots each growing season.
While tree forming can be a lengthy process (3 to 5 years), the end product is well worth the work. The best time to begin tree forming your loropetalum is at the time of planting. For a standard, choose one of the the thickest trunks or upright branches; for a multi-stem, choose 3 to 5 of the thickest trunks or upright branches; prune the remaining vertical branches to ground level. Don't forget to remove unwanted new-growth shoots each growing season.
