Q: We live just above River Road with desert vegetation. A branch of five of what I think is Yucca elata, 3 to 4 feet high, has grown up close to the street edge and my mailbox. All branches look healthy. Would it be possible to separate the bunch, leave only the best one or two, and transplant the others? I hate to just cut down the three or four branches impinging on the street/mailbox since they all look nice.
A:Â It is possible to prune off the branches you want to transplant. It is important to let the cuttings harden off for about a week after you cut them and before you transplant them. Some people use a rooting hormone on the cut end before planting, although that is not required. Also you might want to cut the cuttings down to size if they are too large to stand up on their own when planted. Otherwise you can prop them up until they establish roots.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed to plwarren@cals.arizona.edu
