Frangipani Advice

[poppysdad]

My wife and I love our Frangipani's and have 17 of different colours and sizes, but our favourite (a pointed end leaf var.), a real old and gnarled one planted in the centre of our lawn 2 years ago is beginning to do a "Tower of Pisa" since its supports rotted away about a year ago mainly due to two very long heavy branches causing it to very slowly but surely tilt to one side, I obviously don't want to remove the branches - any suggestions apart from new supports?, we're afraid we'll wake up one morning and find it laying on the lawn.

Another favourite (round tipped var.) is rather tall, but full of blossom which unfortunately is way above us, how can we induce new growth  lower down which I realise will take around 2 years to get to blossom.

Another bit of advice needed is that some of them suffer quite heavily from rust disease, I know that copper compounds can help but cannot seem to find any locally in Hua Hin, any alternatives that do work. Many thanks.

[sbk]

why not prune? If the heavy branches are going to kill the tree it seems to me its better to prune and shape it than to let it break.

[drtreelove]

why not prune? If the heavy branches are going to kill the tree it seems to me its better to prune and shape it than to let it break.

sbk states the common sense approach, pruning can save a tree. Weight reduction pruning, thinning and shaping, can improve the structural integrity of the tree, but why not replace the supports too? It sounds like you mean the tree was supported with wooden stakes that have rotted out; it would be relatively simple to install new stakes or guy wires. If you mean that the tree's structural anchor roots have rotted out, then it may need permanent artificial support with durable materials. Supports can be installed at the back, opposite the lean, to pull it back from the leaning direction; or the supports can be in the form of props, under the leaning stem. If the tree has depended on stakes or props for some time, it may not have developed structural buttess roots, it will need support indefinitely.

For the tall tree that you would like to encourage lower growth, getting sunlight to the lower stems is the key; one or more of the following techniques may encourage lower growth to sprout and develop, depending on the situation:

• thinning - taking out selected interior growth to let light through
  
• crown reduction pruning - reducing the height of the tallest leaders by removing them at their orgin and leaving the shorter tops.
  
• raising the canopy skirt - removing some of the lowest hanging outer branches to allow light through under the canopy
  
• pruning or removing nearby trees and shrubs to allow light onto the stems that you wish to sprout new growth.
  

The course of action is best determined with professional arborist specifications for pruning and bracing installation; but that's not easy to find here in Thailand and some of the methods I see used would be detrimental to the tree's immediate appearance and long term health and structural integrity. I'm in Chiang Mai and don't know anyone to recommend in Hua Hin. Post some pictures here or PM and I will try to give you some tips.

Re fungicide for rust disease on plumeria: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Fungicide-Pl...ia-t204136.html

[drtreelove]

Another bit of advice needed is that some of them suffer quite heavily from rust disease, I know that copper compounds can help but cannot seem to find any locally in Hua Hin, any alternatives that do work. Many thanks.

This from CMSally in another thread on plumeria (fragipani, leelavadee, raylavadee)

http://www.plumeria101.com/problems/rust.html