I want to boost its leaf growth this spring. IT has not been leafing out as much. Here is the picture of it below: http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w65/cliffedwardsk/Picture048.jpg
I was thinking about cropping the top branches down atleast 2-3 feet.
2007-02-13 08:55:03 · 5 answers · asked by Charles R 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
It has a lovely shape to it so be careful! You'll have to look at the bare branches for part of the year, so make sure they keep that nice shape. Pruning won't encourage leaves.
If you want to thin out those center branches and tip the ends you can carefully prune it without damaging the shape.
I would do your trimming now, but first get a book on pruning. You want to use pruning to guide the tree in how it should grow, not just cut it 2 feet shorter. If you cut out the top, it will grow wider and shade more of the grass, if you prune the side and bottom branches, it will grow taller. It is supposed to be a tree, and you have plenty of room in the photo for it to grow. Prune it to guide the shape so it looks natural.
If you just want more leaves, I would suggest you improve its overall environment. Look to see if it is getting too much shade from those tall trees behind it, is the grass against the trunk? Grass competes for water and nutrients. Remove the grass in a ring around the tree and put in a border, then mulch well so the tree has a buffer zone. Are you using a weed eater on the base of the tree? If you damage the trunk around the bottom you will injure the tree, and eventually kill it.
2007-02-13 09:10:49 · answer #1 · answered by Bluestocking88 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hack it back as soon as possible. You can hack it back up to about 8 feet. Whenever you cut one branch back two will grow there so it will make a nice shade type tree.
2007-02-13 17:25:29 · answer #2 · answered by chicken 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's fine. Before any shoots appear to be moving, anyway. Don't get too ruthless and check for dead wood, fungus etc., Lovely tree.
2007-02-13 16:59:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yess, definatly b careful to not trim it too much, tho. it'll produce twice as much in the spring if you do it right
2007-02-13 17:06:39 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
early spring is the best trim time
2007-02-13 16:58:54 · answer #5 · answered by Mystee_Rain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋