From our perspective, we are naturally vigorous, multi-stemmed shrubs. Our energy is directed towards producing numerous canes from the base, creating a dense, bushy form. This is our default survival strategy, allowing us to thrive in our native Mediterranean environments. To be shaped into a tree form, or standard, you must work *with* this innate tendency, not against it. It requires you to selectively channel our growth energy upwards into a single, dominant leader instead of allowing it to spread outwards from the roots. This process mimics a natural event where a single stem outcompetes others for sunlight, becoming a trunk.
The most crucial step is performed early in our life. You must choose the strongest, straightest, and healthiest central cane to become the future trunk. This cane should be robust and show vigorous growth. All other competing canes emerging from the base must be removed completely, cutting them flush with the soil line or main root mass. This redirects all water and nutrient resources solely into the chosen leader, encouraging it to grow tall and strong. It is a significant redirection of our natural resources, forcing us to focus on vertical development.
As the selected central leader grows taller, your task is to gradually clear the lower portion to create a clear trunk. Do not remove all the side branches at once, as these leaves are our primary food factories through photosynthesis. Removing them all simultaneously would starve us of energy. Instead, as the trunk gains height, slowly remove the lower lateral branches in stages. A good rule is to never remove more than one-third of our total growth at a time. This allows us to adapt without going into severe shock, ensuring we continue to produce enough energy to support our new, unnatural form.
Once the trunk has reached the desired height, typically between 3 to 6 feet, you will pinch or cut off the top of the main leader. This action signals to us that vertical growth should cease and energy must now be diverted to the buds just below this cut. These buds will then develop into the main structural branches that form the head or canopy of the tree. You must continue to prune this canopy to maintain a balanced, rounded shape. This involves thinning out crowded branches and tipping back long, leggy growth to encourage denser, bushier foliage at the top, which helps support the weight of our prolific flowers.
Maintaining this tree form is an ongoing dialogue between you and us. We will constantly try to revert to our natural shrubby habit by sending up suckers from the base and water sprouts from the trunk. You must remain vigilant and remove these suckers promptly to preserve the tree's definition. Annual light pruning of the canopy after our main flowering period helps maintain the shape and promotes more blooms for the next season. This consistent care ensures we remain healthy and stable in this manipulated form, as a single trunk must be strong enough to support the entire weight of the canopy, especially when wet or in wind.
