Chop and drop PRO tip - Mexican sunflower

[NthGbsn]

THANK YOU!!! I’m about to sow some seeds & watched a vid before yours. The woman mentioned chop & drop but she removed the leaves & stuck the stalk in the ground. She didn’t mention the roots on it. Glad I found your vid. I don’t need a lot.

[insidethematrix]

When they get big and woody like this, I use a cheap electric chipper. They are so soft any chipper will work. Turns them into fine mulch fast and no worries about rooting.

[allanturpin]

Too many Mexican sunflowers would be a problem I'd like to have... but I will heed this advice once I hit capacity... hopefully by the end of fall if all goes well.
Thanks.

[andystover]

I just wanted to say I watch your What's Ripening all the time. I'm in the Cape and trying to learn all this stuff. Thanks Buddy

[horizendub]

I like that technique for the woody stuff, I usually try to keep that on top of piles too. The best though is just to cut it back really frequently. You can almost do it monthly, especially in the summer. I like to keep it at “easy to cut with hand pruner” size. It’s really nice, tender food for the soil at that stage too. A lot of work, but worth it.

[susycurtis]

I made the mistake one time of pruning my Mexican sunflower and laying it on the ground and then added a nice fresh layer of wood chips on top to cover it. I had Mexican sunflowers popping up everywhere! They rooted under the mulch and sent up shoots. They were easy enough to find and pull up though. Lesson learned.

[theenlightenedfarmermr.dar]

I've been propagating mine they are awesome can't have 2 many. Bee's go crazy on them is another reason i like them so much. But they do grow very fast an can get very thick trunks.

[haljasonfoster]

I keep it waist high and prune it monthly especially in the summer. It's my poor man's hedge and mulch and has significantly improved the sandy Florida soil with layer upon layer of it. As long as the stems aren't woody, they won't root so if I wait too long to cut them down I have to be careful how I lay them, as you said. Once a bed is established with the focus trees or plants, I will take out the Mexican Sunflower which I am getting ready to do with my Macadamia nut tree bed.

[jimcarr]

Is it good to add around willow trees. In a wet area. Chopped sunflowers.

[MasterKenfucius]

That looked like a couple of Inga trees by your sunflower trimmings. I have very poor luck with those in high winds. I always end up with lots of broken branches after a hurricane, even toppled trees that I can't straighten because they're too big. They grow like crazy here in Florida but take a beating from winds due to the soft branches and big leaves.

[ingarrajoey]

I have that problem when I chop my chaya

[JamesMathis-qz]

Looks like you're in Florida where are you located

[redcodefsu]

What variety of mexican sunflower do you grow?

[freedomfighter]

Are you selling any of those stalks? I live in Pinellas county fl.

[cupsCoffee]

I have a small property and my neighbor have me a bunch of these Tithonia seeds without warning me about how giant and woody they are. Good thing I saw your video, these are NOT a good fit for my garden 🤦🏻‍♀️

[meh]

Are those perennial? Do they regrow after chop and drop?

[leerenner]

One tip for your videos, a little less you, and a little more of your plants, just saying that camera in your face is a bit much

[jayssands]

Show us the garden rather than your face!!!! DUH!!!