France in Focus

Help !!!

We planted a mimosa a couple of years ago and it isn't doing well. It's grown upwards but is spindly and the prevailing wind seems to have prevented any growth on one side.
My instinct is to cut it right back and/or move it somewhere slightly more sheltered. They're pretty robust and it would probably stand being moved even at this time of year. It finished flowering over a month ago.

Not a very good photo, but you'll get the picture ..... The poor silver birch on the right suffered storm damage

My experience of cutting back/moving Acacia (it is an Acacia dealbata?) wasn't particularly successful. I'd planted it far too close to the house before discovering that they've got greedy, invasive root systems. It was growing a bit too successfully, but never re-grew where I'd cut it for the flowers. The remaining roots sprouted suckers for about 3 years after it's removal. I'd have thought that 35 is on the limit for growing it in the open, anyway, Blaze? If you do decide to prune it, do it when weather conditions are likely to be kind and try feeding and watering it.

@Quiksilver Thanks for that. Yes, it's Acacia dealbata and grows very well in this area - there are some stunning examples around us. The climate here on the coast is very temperate but the winds from the north can be very strong and damaging.
I'll try cutting it back in May and see what happens as it's not going to improve if I leave it as it is !

I grew a Mimosa far to close to the house 3 years back, twice now I have cut it back with a chain saw they are rapid growers with no problems, just twice as big in 12 months

PS I cut it back after the last flowers

We've got 3 in the garden but well away from the house. The other 2 are fine, just the one in the photo looks sad.