The halfway mark can be a rough estimate rather than an exact measurement. Alternatively, leave the yucca skirt on if you like how it looks, since the lower leaves don’t harm the plant. Pruning isn’t necessary for outdoor yuccas, though it makes for an easy way to keep it from completely overpowering the yard. Dividing yuccas to control their growth works on the same principle. As for the babies, I believe I have that job done. Based in Houston, Texas, Meg Butler is a professional farmer, house flipper and landscaper. So, now that the misleading common name is fully exposed, perhaps there should be a move to more correctly call this plant the “Rose-Coral Yucca Imposter”. Your pot should easily fit the roots of your plant and have some extra room for it to grow. Remove any dead or damaged leaves by hand at the end of summer, gently plucking them off the plant. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Because they have an extensive root system, it is virtually impossible to remove the entire network. The old foliage sinks to the ground around the plant as it fades. ), which die after flowering. Can I cut the trunk and replant the top of the tree to save it? The plant does not respond well to hard prunes, and the foliage may not grow back. All you need to do is to prune off dead flower stalks in the fall. "I trimmed my outdoor yucca plants as you suggested, and they look great with a healthy look.". You can also push the shoots straight in the ground and they will usually take and start growing from there. However, regrowth is never guaranteed. During the winter, cut back on the moisture for your yucca soil in between each watering. Yuccas grow slowly and develop a trunklike stem, whereas century plants lack stems and remain a rosette of leaves. Even if you cut the plant down, surviving roots will send up new shoots. Yucca plants develop a “skirt” of lower leaves much like palms trees. Water your plants again in about 10 days to 2 weeks. Cutting away damaged leaves is especially helpful if the yucca plant is struggling. Support wikiHow by On my yucca there was already the beginnings of roots on the stem over the rot, like little rice corns. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Keep the yucca plant away from sidewalks and high traffic areas so they don't cut anyone. Any ideas greatly appreciated. If you have children or pets, pick a location away from their play area. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. Yucca plants are great indoor plants, but they can grow too tall and need to be pruned to fit. Cut them off as close to the plant as possible and until you get about halfway up. Yucca leaves are often sharp. Pruning yucca plants is a quick and simple process. Each are pruned slightly differently. My yucca has root rot. The only way a yucca plant can survive a winter is if it is a mild one. Allowing it to dry out in between watering is okay in the wintertime. A hardy plant that is drought- and cold-tolerant, red yucca sports grassy, clumping foliage and bright flowers that bring color and texture to the landscape. % of people told us that this article helped them. The bottom leaves are called the yucca’s “skirt.” Start at the bottom of the plant, and begin cutting off leaves using a knife, blade, pruning shears, or scissors. You can cut these leaves away as desired. Always wear gloves and safety glasses when cutting the yucca plants. They are now in the community dump. Prune any pups (small red yucca plants) growing out of the base of the yucca on the end of a thin stem. Red yucca, also known as hummingbird yucca, is a perennial plant valued for its large, ornamental flowers, attractive foliage, drought tolerance and ease of care. If over-watered, the leaves will die or become discolored. Make your cuts as close as possible to the yucca's trunk. Prune any brown, dead yucca leaves at their base. Sanitize your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol before and after you use them, as well as when you switch between plants. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 72,900 times. The succulent grows in clumps of grass-like, blue … Tall spikes hold deep rose-pink flowers almost year-round; effective plant for rock garden, landscape accent, or in containers. Yucca flaccida 'Golden Sword' As long as it is well … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/aid9800239-v4-728px-Prune-Yucca-Plants-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"