The way to Boost a Laburnum Arch
The stunning Laburnum tree, commonly called the goldenchain tree, which is desirable for its grand cascading clusters of yellowish blossoms which bloom in the spring. The Laburnum tree can easily be fashioned into a arch, creating an elegant entry point or walkway, when a few trees are grown together in a row. Of the several varieties available, Laburnum x Watereri “Vossii” is capable of growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8. The Laburnum tree is best grown in full sun to part shade and prefers well-draining soil.
Dig 2 holes with a scoop, about 8 ft apart. Make each hole twice as wide, but no deeper than the root ball of the tree. Plant one 6-foot tall Laburnum tree each hole and back fill with indigenous soil.
Insert a 2-by-8-foot wooden bet on the windward side of the tree, 4 inches from the central leader and 2 feet into the ground at the base of the tree. Safe each 2 feet with tie tape. Replace with taller stakes as the tree grows.
Water the Laburnum trees to a depth of 24 inches regularly, with a watering hose that is put on a slow trickle. Permit the soil to dry out between waterings. Continue supplementary watering for up to 3 years when mud isn’t adequate.
Fertilize the Laburnum trees annually after transplant in the early spring by applying a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the base of this tree. Keep the compost at least 3 inches away from the back.
Remove branches from inside the middle of their trees with pruning shears, to a distance of about 7 feet. Make the cut at a 45 degree angle just above a pair of needles or posterior division.
Tie the two Laburnum trees with tie tape, manipulating the central leaders to form the arch between the two trees when the they have attained about 12 feet tall; the distance from the ground to the peak of the arch should be about 10 feet. Tie any additional branches together if needed.
Shape the trees by continuously tying new leading branches onto the existing arch kind and pruning new growth from the middle between the trees, as it forms. Let the outer sides and tops of those trees grow naturally.