How do you prune a deodar cedar to make it fuller?

Answer 1

Its not a good idea to cut back on a Deodara Cedar. The branching has a natural weeping appearance, and by cutting back, you will lose this natural look. This type of tree is not meant to be pruned to look thick and bushy. However, if it encroaches upon the house or some type of structure you'll have to prune. Other than that, I wouldn't touch a thing. Let it grow naturally into a beautiful tree...

Answer 2

You need to be careful when pruning evergreens because if you cut into dead wood you might not get any new growth. I moved out of an apartment one time after the landlord's daughter ruined all the evergreens trying to shape them like Edward Scissorhands -- she killed 8/9's of them.

http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1003.htm

PRUNING CONIFERS (NEEDLE-TYPE EVERGREENS)

Most upright-growing plants in this group such as spruce, pine, cedar and fir have branches spaced evenly around the main trunk. They develop a symmetrical growth habit and become quite large at maturity. If planted in open areas and given plenty of room to grow, they require minimal pruning.

If you remove about one-half of the new shoots while new growth is in the "candle stage" (small immature needles packed around the stem resembling a candle), you can thicken the growth of pines and spruce. Avoid cutting back into the hardened older wood because new shoots will not grow and the form of the plant will be destroyed.

Also - http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0628.html

PRUNING EVERGREENS:
With few exceptions, evergreens (conifers) require little pruning. Different types of evergreens should be pruned according to their varied growth habits.

Spruces, firs and douglas-firs don’t grow continuously, but can be pruned any time because they have lateral (side) buds that will sprout if the terminal (tip) buds are removed. It’s probably best to prune them in late winter, before growth begins. Some spring pruning, however, is not harmful.


Pines only put on a single flush of tip growth each spring and then stop growing. Prune before these “candles” of new needles become mature. Pines do not have lateral buds, so removing terminal buds will take away new growing points for that branch. Eventually, this will leave dead stubs.

Answer 3

It is not good to cut conifers like deodar.They don't tend to grow back.