Weak/Messy Cordyline Australis - HELP!

Anything to oblige, thanks for the kind words, Verdun and Gail. Can I add my welcome to our new member?

We like acers as they can be trained to the shape you want them. Ideal for small gardens like ours. They don't need much maintenance. Ours get fed with the watered down dregs from the sump of our koi pool each week as fish poo is slightly acid.

We have these two palmatums. I train them to keep a mushroom shape

This one we've had thirty years.
I trim the skirt with garden shears every year.




This came from B&Q ten years ago.



It's as big now as I want it, so wont be allowed to grow any bigger.



This was one we bought five years ago.
It got a bit carried away and had very uneven growth.



So got the treatment and it looks like this now. It's already had a trim this year. Again I won't let it get any bigger.




This one too in our small front garden gets about a foot trimmed off every winter, to maintain its "lollypop shape." It's about 20ft tall.

 

mate for adding your stunning Acers for @newgardner to view

Spectacular show and your garden is always a pleasure to view

 

Guys, I'm so sorry for not replying sooner. Just been really busy and with the weather about to pick up, I'm going to be even more busy.

@Doghouse Riley - Very kind of you to post photos for me. WOW! Those trees are just stunning! I doubt it if I could make mine that good. How do you keep them so neatly shaped?

I know you guys have said the Acer, but I'm thinking to take your advice, move it to a bigger pot with better compost and then wait for it to become more bushy and stronger.



The question is what do I do until then? I'm thinking to plant the Pieris Flame Forest in the planter...no???

 

Hi @newgardner I have to Pieris starting to go a flaming red they stunning besides when they have the pearl drops on them

I have two either side of my decking




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