How to prune a flat top African Acacia. Advice please

avz10 · Fri Jun 17, 2011 2:55 pm

I have bought an African Flat-top Acacia tree (Acacia tortilis)

[img]https://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/avz10/Untitled-1-11.jpg[/img]

I need to prune it tonight to transport it.

Any advice please exactly where I should prune?

[img]https://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/avz10/17062011001-1.jpg[/img]

Thanks

kdodds · Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:03 pm

Why do you need to prune it to transport it? I mean, it seems like a silly question because we've no way of know why or how. From a development perspective, it should not be pruned yet at all, IMO.

TomM · Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:50 pm

Looks like a year-old cutting. Transporting? Why?

avz10 · Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:31 pm

Flying from north to south in our country- at this stage too big already to transport as cabin baggage upright.

kdodds · Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:53 pm

You might want to check with your airline first, and with your country's customs. Many countries are very funny about transporting plants. The would be the best people to ask as this tree, IMO, is not ready for pruning.

tomc · Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:04 am

If you remain in-country customs shouldn't be an issue. Over international borders, it easily could be an insurmountable issue.

How tall is it? And how tall must it become to transport?

Somehow I suspect the latter will define the former.

froggy · Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:10 pm

Why don't you ceran-wrap the pot/soil and transport it sideways?
I mean, the main reason you would transport it upright is to keep the soil in the pot... If it lies flat for a few hours, I am sure it would be fine, as long as you don't break anything...

But yeah, make sure it's ok to take the plant before having to get rid of it and paying a hefty fine at customs...

kdodds · Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:02 pm

Fines are the least of one's worries attempting to smuggle goods. Jail time is not out of the question. Heck, even ordering seeds from overseas on e-bay is illegal. Do it enough and get caught and you really could wind up in jail. It's not just the tariffs, it's USDA, restriction of possible pests and disease, whatnot. That's why you need not only an import license, but a phytosanitary certificate as well, proving the plants are clean and disease and pest free.