I have just moved house and the gardens are well set out but there are a number of cordylines and some look as if the bottom leaves have died I want to know what to do leave them or cut them back to promote new growth

hi reference your cordylines, you dont say how large they are or if they are green or red. You will not harm by carefully cutting back the lower leaves, be aware that they are not all hardy and could be affected by very sharp frosts in some parts of the country.Just give them a bit of protection by using some fleece to cover over if we get any harsh weather in the winter, it is usually the cold winds that do most damage.But they are great plants to have in your garden and i hope you enjoy them and your new house.

Thank you for that I was wondering what to do with the cordyline I had put in the hot bed (not that it has been so this summer more like luke warm)...

At the moment the Cannas which are all around it are protecting it fromt the worst of the weather but once the first frost have blackened them I will have to lift them to store them in the shed over the winter (like Dhalias). I am hoping that they will at last decide to bloom before the frost come as only one of the dozen I planted has done so... doesn't look like we are going to get an Indian Summer this year does it...

My other problem is that this is my first garden and I have got very enthusiastic about buying plants but I have run out of steam in planting them... got a bit busy on other things and need the weather to perk up and my clay soil to drain before I can get on now...

At least my tomatoes are beginning to ripen - maybe it was threatening them with making green tomatoe chutney which has done the trick?.

Cordylines
Hi I bought a reject m&s cordyline (I felt sorry for it)10 years ago. It grew so I planted it out in a pot, it grew so I dug a hole and in it went. Last year it flowered (ugly looking thing) and now it is deviding into 2 branches at the top. I truly believe these plants thrieve on neglect. I think the leaves at the bottom protect the trunk. "Thing" as I call it is over 12ft high.

It does no harm to remove the dead/dying leaves at the base of a cordyline...they look much better too! The one that is also known as a Torbay Palm looks particularly ugly and neglected if the leaves are left. I agree about the flowers being ugly but they can be pruned off after flowering to tidy the tree.

It does no harm to remove the dead/dying leaves at the base of a cordyline...they look much better too! The one that is also known as a Torbay Palm looks particularly ugly and neglected if the leaves are left. I agree about the flowers being ugly but they can be pruned off after flowering to tidy the tree.

Hi everyone, interesting to read your comments about your cordyline's. I purchased mine from the local garden centre when it was only tiny and spindle like. It is now about 6 years old and 10 ft tall. I haven't really paid it much attention over the years and have successfully relocated it to another part of the garden. It didn't seem to bother it at all. I haven't however, had any flowers from it yet. It maybe something to do with my soil, it contains a lot of clay. I have two pampus grasses and they have never flowered either. Back to the Cordyline. I don't protect it from the frost and I live on a corner plot so it has been exposed to the elements from day one. I don't think that these plants have any do's or don'ts! Just go with the flow!

ARG

Fully agree with all you have all said. I got my cordyline (Australis, they're just about the hardiest) about ten years ago and just plonked it in the front garden. I do remove the brown leaves at the bottom, not only as it is neater, but also I always find loads of earwigs and snails there. It's now at least 12ft tall - I believe they can reach 30ft.

I was really interested to read that after flowering, two sets of new leaves were sprouting, as this is exactly what mine has done. I haven't removed the flower stalk and am just watching to see what happens - also, didn't quite know how to remove it as they are pretty inaccessible through the ****es. My neighbour used to work in a garden centre and she reckons it can be left, so we'll see.

The cordyline was also what inspired me to plant a jungle area at the bottom of my garden - only a baby one as yet - fingers crossed.

Robinia

please please if anyone knows why the leaves of a torbay red cordyline go all brown let me know. many many thanks

Ah ha! Just a note about these flower stalks everyone:-
A couple of winters ago I noticed activity of the bird-kind in my "mature" 15ft cordyline..on closer inspection a group of overwintering blackcaps took a particular fancy to the fruit of this plant. They paid daily visits and I witnessed them eating ..took a few photos I think actually.. I will post. Four blackcaps at one time once...they couldn't get enough of them. There was 4 big bunches of fruits with a blackcap in each !!
So I recommend leaving the fruit to ripen... helps wildlife in winter.

My red cordyline has sprouted two new shoots, does anybody know if its possible to remove them and pot them on or is it best to leave them be?

Thanks

You can remove them if you want. It might be best to wait until spring, they might do better when it is warmer. They should root easily though.

Help! My 6 foot green cordyline (grown in a pot) has just started to wilt in the centre, the once erect spike has flopped over to one side while the rest of it looks healthy. The only changes to it have been a feeding with fish blood and bone and a very wet summer. Can't find a solution anywhere on the internet and would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Help, my 2ft red cordyline has suddenly starting lossing lots of leaves, they just fall off and I'm now left with just a few new ones which I've tied up, but they've now bent to one side and looks like they are going to snap off. I've had this plant for about two/three years and this is the first time it's ever done this, it's never flowered either....??? The soil is ok and my heathers are doing great. Any help would be appreciated.