Smoketree Cotinus 'Royal Purple' on stem purple - Hardy plant

What do I need?

• A trowel
• Garden peat, compost, hydrograins and sand
• Water

Water first
Place the smoke tree in a bucket of lukewarm water first.

In a pot
Add sand, garden peat, hydrograins and compost to a large pot and then plant the Cotinus. Place the tree at the proper height, so that the top of the root ball is just below ground level. Fill the hole up with potting soil and press firmly. Give the Cotinus water right away.

In the garden
Smoke trees thrive in wind-protected, sunny locations and in soil that drains well. The soil needs to be nutrient-rich, but it is all right if it is a bit dry. Create a spacious hole for planting and till the soil well. Add sand, garden peat, hydrograins and compost to the hole and then plant the Cotinus. Place the tree at the proper height, so that the top of the root ball is just below ground level. Fill the hole up with potting soil and press firmly. Give the Cotinus water right away.

What do I need?

• Pruning shears

Maintenance
Not necessary.

Pruning
Smoke trees do not grow quickly, so you only need to prune them for aesthetic reasons. In March, you can cut back the branches that don’t look as nice.
If you want to dramatically prune the Cotinus, only leave the three primary stems behind. The shrub will need a year to recover, but it will grow quite vigorously once it does. If you want to turn the Cotinus into a small tree, cut away everything and only allow one stem to continue growing. You can prune the shrub to your liking once it has bloomed.