Trumpet tree – care, pruning, wintering and diseases

If you follow a few important instructions for care right from the start, you will enjoy a healthy and strong tree for many years to come. The ideal time to plant a young trumpet tree is late summer or early autumn. The time of the great heat waves should definitely be over and one or the other rain shower should fall. During this time of year the tree has enough time to form roots and grow well. In autumn and winter the soil is also much more humid than during the warm summer season, which makes healthy growth much easier. Nonetheless, regular monitoring of the trumpet tree’s water requirement is essential, because if its roots dry out, it has little chance of survival. The following care and planting instructions help ensure that the trumpet tree grows lush and healthy:

• a sunny location is ideal;
• the trumpet tree is extremely heat-resistant;
• Before planting, put the root ball in a bucket of water;
• Dig the planting hole about twice as large as the root ball is;
• the surface of the bale must be just below ground level;
• place a wooden post next to the bale as a support;
• Tie the tree trunk and wooden stake together;
• the soil is moist, rich in nutrients and somewhat sandy;
• add compost, horn shavings or garden manure to the soil;
• immediately after planting, water the root ball vigorously;
• a young tree should be fertilized every now and then;
• above all, the root ball must not dry out at any time;
• Protect young trumpet trees from frost with foil or reed mats.

Since the trumpet tree can grow up to 18 meters high, the distance to the house and other trees is of great importance when choosing the location. As a rule of thumb, the tree should be planted as far away from the building as it will grow in height.

Cutting to the shape you want

This type of tree tolerates pruning very well. Even the less experienced hobby gardener can use this advantage to give the trumpet tree the optimal shape. Lush and wide-spreading crowns can be formed by bold cutting in young trees, because the new shoots form very quickly. Cutting should be done in dry and warm weather so that the cuts close quickly. If the branches are simply shortened, an unattractive broom emergence can result. It is better to cut the head tree, that is, to decapitate down to the leading branches, which the trumpet tree can tolerate well. If you don’t have that much courage, you first perform a rejuvenation cut, in which the natural shape of the tree is retained. Only weak branches are removed in favor of new, young branches. If the trumpet tree is getting on in years, regular thinning is sufficient so that it retains its aesthetic shape. If the tree grows from your own property over a sidewalk or a street, a clearance profile cut required by law is required. This means that the following clear space must be retained:

• 2.5 m over footpaths and bike paths
• 4.5 m above traffic roads

In this area, deadwood must also be removed as part of traffic safety measures. This means that it is always important to ensure that all dead and broken branches from a thickness of 3 cm are removed.

A refinement of the trumpet tree, called nana for short, which results in a spherical crown, is very popular in private gardens and parks. The half-trunk of the conventional trumpet tree serves as the basis for the refinement. This half-stem will also no longer grow; the crown does, however, and over the years up to a height of 6 m. In order to keep its typical spherical shape, this refined shape of the trumpet tree is cut to size every year from February to April. If the tree then gets older, annual thinning is sufficient to counteract the loss of branches.

Prepare well for wintering

Since its introduction in Europe, the trumpet tree has adapted well to the local climatic conditions and is therefore quite winter-proof. Only a young trumpet tree can suffer from severe frost and should therefore be protected by a film in its first 3 to 4 years of life in winter. Wrapping the tree trunk with reed mats and strips of jute also helps protect against the cold.

Tree experts also advise whitening the tree trunks to ensure healthy wintering. If sunlight and frost hit the tree bark at the same time, it can tear. This frost damage can be prevented if the trunk is painted white to reflect the sun’s rays. Before doing this, however, it is necessary that the tree trunk is cleaned of moss, lichen and other impurities. This is followed by the application of a wound closure and then the coating with white paint. If you want to be absolutely sure that a young trumpet tree can hibernate in a protected place, you should first grow it in a large planter for a while. This should ideally be provided with wheels so that the tree can be transported to winter quarters without any problems. This can be a garage, be a garden shed or a winter garden. At this point, the risk of confusion with the angel’s trumpet should be pointed out again, which is also very often incorrectly referred to as the trumpet tree. The angel’s trumpet is a nightshade plant and is by no means frost-resistant. Therefore, this plant should definitely be moved to winter quarters. Older trumpet trees are basically hardy; nevertheless, it is advisable to prepare them for the cold season in autumn. As long as it is still reasonably warm, the dead branches are removed by cutting a tree. In the next spring numerous new and strong young shoots develop unhindered. which is also very often mistakenly referred to as the trumpet tree. The angel’s trumpet is a nightshade plant and is by no means frost-resistant. Therefore, this plant should definitely be moved to winter quarters. Older trumpet trees are basically hardy; nevertheless, it is advisable to prepare them for the cold season in autumn. As long as it is still reasonably warm, the dead branches are removed by cutting a tree. In the next spring numerous new and strong young shoots develop unhindered. which is also very often mistakenly referred to as the trumpet tree. The angel’s trumpet is a nightshade plant and is by no means frost-resistant. Therefore, this plant should definitely be moved to winter quarters. Older trumpet trees are basically hardy; nevertheless, it is advisable to prepare them for the cold season in autumn. As long as it is still reasonably warm, the dead branches are removed by cutting a tree. In the next spring numerous new and strong young shoots develop unhindered. nevertheless, it is advisable to prepare them for the cold season in autumn. As long as it is still reasonably warm, the dead branches are removed by cutting a tree. In the next spring numerous new and strong young shoots develop unhindered. nevertheless, it is advisable to prepare them for the cold season in autumn. As long as it is still reasonably warm, the dead branches are removed by cutting a tree. In the next spring numerous new and strong young shoots develop unhindered.

Prevent and cure diseases

The trumpet tree is prone to gray mold rot, a fungal infection that causes the shoots to die. Especially young, not yet lignified tissue is attacked and dies. This fungus is very common worldwide and attacks numerous host plants such as maple, magnolia, elm and the trumpet tree. Here mostly only chemical agents such as fungicides help to save the tree.

Another disease, which in principle damages all shrubs and trees, is caused by humans. We are talking about road salt damage that causes leaf spots, curling of the leaves and premature leaf fall. Even years after the last use of road salt, this damage occurs because it only seeps into the ground very slowly. The clinical picture is easily confused with the typical symptoms of dehydration. As a preventive measure, the trumpet tree should be fertilized regularly, watered abundantly and, if possible, given a soil change.

Another pest threatens the health of the trumpet tree, which is also a fungus. It is the burn crust fungus, which has a deceptively inconspicuous appearance and yet causes serious damage to trees. Its light-colored fruiting bodies are only visible in spring, causing white rot or musty rot. Since the fire crust fungus attacks the roots at an early stage, the stability of the trumpet tree is quickly endangered. Effective countermeasures are not yet known. Preventive measures include regular fertilization, adequate water supply and avoiding injuries.

If yellow leaves appear on the trumpet tree, this can be an indication that it has contracted Verticillium wilt. This is one of the most difficult tree diseases to treat because it clogs the tree’s pathways. Water transport and nutrient supply are interrupted and initially cause the leaves to partially yellow. In the end, the entire tree dies and can only be cleared. Effective control agents have not yet been developed. Therefore, only careful prevention can protect the trumpet tree from the Verticillium wilt:

• the soil must be rich in nutrients;
• perform root aeration every 3 to 4 years;
• regular fertilization;
• make a strong cut back into the healthy wood;
• then thoroughly disinfect all garden tools;
• Do not dispose of removed tree parts on the compost.

Since the Verticillium fungus can be in the ground for 10 to 14 years before it hits, it is advisable to have the soil examined by a specialist before planting the trumpet tree. If the clearing of an infested trumpet tree is unavoidable, the hobby gardener does not have to accept an unsightly gap at this point. Instead, a conifer can be planted there that will not be attacked by this fungus.

Propagation by seeds and sinkers

It is not uncommon for older trumpet trees to form subsidence, whereby branches sink into the ground and take root there. In this way an increase is set in motion. However, since trees as large as the trumpet tree should not be directly next to each other, the hobby gardener should remove the lowering devices immediately.

A targeted propagation through the seeds, which are located in the elongated fruits of the trumpet tree, is possible in the house all year round. First, put the seeds in room warm water for some time to soak up a little. Then they are placed in moist potting soil and covered with this about half a centimeter. During the germination period, which is usually 5 to 8 weeks, the vessel is covered with a transparent film or glass. It is briefly ventilated every 3 days so that mold does not form. The strongest seedlings are later carefully repotted, taking care not to damage the young roots.

Conclusion
Thanks to its large leaves, brilliant white flowers and large fruits, the trumpet tree is an ornament for any large plant. Therefore, it can not only be found in numerous private gardens, but also adorns many public parks. Since this tree was introduced from America in the 18th century, it has adapted well to the climatic conditions in Europe. Caring for it does not require extensive specialist knowledge and can therefore be easily managed even by an ambitious hobby gardener. However, it should not be ignored that all parts of the trumpet tree are slightly poisonous. In particular, the fruits are nice to look at, but by no means edible.