Soil Improvement and

Environment Rehabilitation

The leaves and flowers are rich in nitrogen and therefore serve as good fertiliser as green compost. The flowers are in the

spring looks like a giant hand bouquet , green and shady in summer. Paulownia species are therefore very suitable for

landmark shade for residentials and pollution control for industrial estates.

Paulownias can adapt to a wide range of temperatures. All species in Australia are known to withstand temperatures of -10o

to +40o centigrade

In Japan, Paulownia has been used as the logo for the office of prime minister and the emblem of the cabinet and the

government.It is also used as body material for high end custom guitars . The appearance , resonance and light weight

make it a highly sought after tone wood for guitar makers.

Paulownia is extremely fast growing; some species of plantation Paulownia can be harvested for saw timber in as little as

five years. Once the trees are harvested, they regenerate from their stump. It is a phyto-remediator, increasing the organic

content of degraded soils, processing and filtering contaminants through the uptake of its leaves, and emitting oxygen into

the atmosphere.

General Classifications :

Kingdom: Plantae

(unranked): Angiosperms

(unranked): Eudicots

(unranked): Asterids
Ordo: Lamiales

Family: Paulowniaceae

Genus: Paulownia

Paulownia australis

Paulownia catalpifolia

Paulownia coreana

Paulownia duclouxii

Paulownia elongata

Paulownia fargesii

Paulownia fortunei

Paulownia glabrata

Paulownia grandifolia

Paulownia imperialis

Paulownia kawakamii

Paulownia lilacina

Paulownia longifolia

Paulownia meridionalis

Paulownia mikado

Paulownia recurva

Paulownia rehderiana

Paulownia shensiensis

Paulownia silvestrii

Paulownia taiwaniana

Paulownia thyrsoidea

Paulownia tomentosa
Paulownia viscosa

In China, an old custom is to plant Paulownia tree when a baby girl is born. The fast-growing tree matures when she does.

When she is ready for marriage the tree is cut down and carved into wooden articles for her dowry. Carving the wood of

Paulownia is an art form in Japan and China. Several Asian string instruments are made from P. tomentosa, including the

Japanese koto and Korean gayageum zithers.

Fertilizer

Use organic high nitrogen fertilizer . Better water at night in dry season every week for the early months, then go to

once a month till the tree goes dormant.Remenber that dry season and wet season will be marked with growth ring lines in

your log.

Disease and Treatment

Use organic fertilizers that also works as mild insect repellant or also insecticides. Do not let the soil to stay soaky wet all the

time. Paulownia is a strong plant , but can't whitstand a soaky wet soil. Do not use herbicides to remove the weeds

around the stem.It will kill the tree also.Improve the soil with compost, minerals,and organic fretilizers. The trees can be

damaged or killed by external insecticides, fungicides and herbicides sprayed nearby. If you insist to use these agents, spray

20 - 30 ft from tree.

Soil Improvement

Preserve fallen leaves to become green compost.

Sun Exposure
The plant require maximum sun exposure,at least 6-8 hours per day. They will not grow well in deep shade.

Drainage

The roots can not tolerate standing water, because it will rot. Give idle time for the soil to dry out between watering.

Plant Spacing

Recommended space between plant is 10' x 12'.Plant at least 6' to a construction or foundation. If planted next to another

tree, plant no closer than 5 feet.

Soil Rehabilitation

To plant in damaged soil or poor soil, prepare the planting hole with a well drain soil mix.

Planting Hole Size

The hole should be at least 2' x 2' x 2'.

Staking / Support

In the first year and half , when the column diameter is still less than 4" and leaves are bigger, if the planting area have

records of strong wind, staking is necessary. Tie top of stakes with ring of cloth. Do not tie trunk to stakes. Protect from

cattle.

Boosting the growth

Use foliar fertilizer half the recommended dosage once every week.

Weeding

Keep 4ft diameter area around trunk clear of weed.

Pruning

Let leaves fall on their own - Do not remove large leaves,this will slow growth.
Remove only branch buds that grow just above leaf stem. If you let branch bud to grow in higher point , the taller your tree

will be.

Year 1 - height 10 to 15 ft - One vertical stalk, leaves diameter 18" - 22".

Year 2 - height 15 to 20 ft - Spring buds turn into branches , 10 " - 12" leaves.

Year 3 - height 25 to 27 ft - 4" - 5" leaves.

Year 4 - height 29 to 30 ft - Deep roots established, watering requirements are minimal.

Size

Kawakamii average 25 to 30 feet .

Elongata and Fortunei up to 80 feet.

Canopy width will average 20 to 25 feet.

Trunk diameter will average 18 to 24 inches.

Multiple taproots can grow down instead of out;follow the watering instructions above; which is excellent for planting near

walks (3ft away), structures and in gardens.

The tree will flower the second or third spring for 6 to 8 weeks.

Weather zone

From -15 degrees F to 130 degrees depending on the type of tree.

Life spans

Expected life span is 80 to 100 years.

Seeds

At Spring ,after the flowers matured,large seed pods can be found.The best time to cut them off is just after the blooms fall,

if you want to collect seeds for growing, might be a good idea to wait another week.
Additional Planting Instructions

Each small Paulownia tree you have just received should be watered as soon as you take it out of the shipping container.

Plant each tree in a 8" - 10" polybag , which contains a sandy loam soil mix. Sometimes, the tree may appear drowsy when

it first arrives. This is transplant shock. Place tree in the early morning to early afternoon sun. Treat with root stimulant.

Wait a week. Then fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer mix like 30-10-10, or 20-10-10. Best to fertilize at night.

Very important to only water when the soil is dry.Do not water everyday, otherwise the roots will rot on constant soggy wet

condition.

If the temperatures are in the 90's or higher, give the tree only the early morning sun till noon or 1:00 PM for few weeks.

This allows the young seedling to adjust.

When the tree starts to bud out or put out a new shoot in the pot, be sure to prune all branch buds.

After the tree is 12" - 18", It can be planted in the ground.

If your tree does not grow 12" - 18" before dry season,better cut all the way back close to the ground. This will reset the

fast growth process. This will ensure that you get full speed growth.

Planting in open land

After putting in the plant to the planting hole, and fill up the hole with the specified soil mix described above, make sure that

you let some of the soil to form a 3"-4" tall 4' diameter barricade wall to create water holding area for each tree to ensure

that the roots grow straight down.

Watering

We have to make sure that the soil is already dry before the next watering. We must make sure it doesn't soaky wet the

roots.
Planting in Mid or Late Summer

If you plant in the middle or late summer, your tree will not have reached a full first year's height (10 to 15 feet). If this is

the case, next spring, when each Paulownia tree starts to bud out, it is important to cut the short trunk (less than 10 feet)

back close to the ground. Mid or late summer planting is a good time to plant for growing a massive root system.The next

spring will be the time for growing a tall central trunk. The following spring will be the time for growing the limbs. The trunk

of the Paulownia tree will not grow any taller after its limbs start to grow. If you do not take this approach, you will have a

shrub like shape rather than a tree with one trunk and canopy. If you want the best results, this pruning technique is the

best way. When you cut your tree off early next spring, within a few weeks shoots will come up all around the old trunk

area. Choose one for the new trunk, and nip off all of the rest.

Good luck !

References :

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Paulownia

Wikpedia, the free encyclopedia - Paulownia tomentata

www.paulowniatrees.org.au

www.paulowniaholdings.com

www.paulowniasupply.com

www.dragontrees.com

www.paulowniatrees.com

www.alibaba.com

www.ecplaza.com