Over grown Yucca

My varigated Yucca was planted 10 years ago and flowered after 7.
It has an 18" trunk and is 4ft high.
It has now produced several leaders.
I expected it to grow skywards not bush out.
Can I remove the "side shoots"?

Iam prepared for the battle if I have to attack the spiky brute..
But it's a beauty and I don't want to lose it by doing wrong.
Help!!

 

Have a look at the 5th question

http://www.orchardsedge.com/qa.jsp?category=Evergreen+Trees

 

Thanks for that Steve.

 

Paladin, When you cut it back you can use the sawn off bits as cuttings, dont waste them.

 

Hi pete.
Sure thing!
What is the best way to do that?,'fraid I'm not into cuttings too much, only the odd pink or two.



:confused:

 

Well I like to leave them to dry a couple of days or so. You do need a few inches of firm stem, so I strip off the lower leaves and when the cut surface has dried off bury 3-4 ins of stem (depending on the size of the cutting) in sandy compost in a suitable sized pot, and this time of year leave in a sheltered spot. You might not get 100% sucsess but if you only want a couple, then you've not lost much.

 

Right then, on with the armour.
If I'm not back in a while I'll probably be in casualty!! :D

 

O.K. then.
That job done, and hopefully, successfully potted on. Eight in all.
Thing is, at the base there are three growths.
They are tipped with, what appear to be,shoots.
Mind you ,they could be feet, and the thing is about to get on the move
:eek:

 

Yeah, I think you might struggle a bit if you only want the one stem. They want to grow out as they get older, it their way of growth, perhaps you should have gone for a joshua tree.

 

pete. Got me on that one :confused:

 

Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia.

 

What a wierd looking plant.
A bit exotic for my plot. :eek:

Thanks for the info,sold two cuttings at work today

Paladin

 

Great. Dont let the tax man find out.