The common mimosa ( Acacia dealbata ) is a small or medium-sized tree that does well in humid climates and warm winters, such as the Atlantic and Mediterranean. With compound and bipinnate leaves (formed by leaflets or independent parts in an even number on a common axis), it has abundant groups of yellow or white flowers, of small size and very fragrant. Do you want to have this tree in your garden ?, then follow these practical tips to grow mimosas.
How to grow mimosas
The first rule for its proper growth is to dig a large hole , wider than it is deep. We will bear in mind that mimosa needs a lot of surface area for its powerful roots to develop perfectly. It thrives well on sandy soils, but since they are usually quite dry, we must pay special attention to irrigation . We will never let it go thirsty, or we will run the risk that it will become dull and it will cost us a lot to recover it. Nor is transplantation convenient, hence, if we do it, we must carefully extract the root ball so that it does not crumble.
It resists the intense cold , but suffers from the snow, which causes serious damage to its branches. In this case, we better protect it, putting it in a sheltered place, against a wall to the south or west and covering the ground with a light layer of straw so that it does not freeze. If it is in a pot, we will take it home or to a corner of the terrace if the temperature is below -4ºC. It prefers the open air to the interior, where it requires little heating and good light, as well as a lot of space.
To make them appear more bushy, we must prune the mimosas vigorously in their formative stage. Any other cut is not advisable. If we do it when the tree is young, we will achieve globose specimens, with a healthier and correct bearing, and more beautiful blooms as they appear more bushy. By the way, we can take advantage of the stems to place them in a container with water and sugar and place them in a cool room as decoration.
In summer we can make cuttings of mimosas, cutting branch terminals that have not flowered, and using a mixture of peat and sand. We will maintain a certain humidity so that, in two months, they take root. In autumn we spread seeds in a sowing tray and keep them in a shady and humid place at 21ºC. In the first year, they will measure 15 centimeters and we can put the plants in pots the next. They can be taken to the garden after two growing seasons.
