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prooning trees

jonathan_d_hubbardjonathan_d_hubbard Posts: 3
in Problem solving

I have two trees in my garden I'd like to prune.

1.  Rowan. This one was planted prior to our arrival  and has about 8 trunks and I'd like to prune away the 7 thinnest and leave the thickest  to make a more attractive tree. Is this a goer?

image    image

2. Acer. I planted this about 7 years ago as a sapling. It's got a bit bushy and would like to tidy it up a bit, maybe get a bit more trunk growth and fewer but stronger branches.

image image

Thanks for looking will consider any imageadvice any one might have.image

Posts

  • Gardener JohnGardener John Posts: 114

    Hi Jonathan I would take off one stem, then stand back and look from all angles.

    Then another and so on not cut all at once, that should sort the rowan..

    As for the acer proceed with a little caution just trimming lower or crossing branches and side shoots to

    bring it back into shape.  Don't be tempted to cut too much off at one go take another look in spring.

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    rowan you can take back to one or two stems easily,

    the Japanese acer I would be very hesitant in pruning, maybe crown raise it a bit (remove the bottom branches to the trunk) and possibly remove some of the thinner branches in the crown to the trunk (leaving the biggest branches) but a pruned Acer if done badly not only looks terrible, but can take years to recover and that's if it doesn't take umbrage and curl up and die.

  • jonathan_d_hubbardjonathan_d_hubbard Posts: 3

    Thanks

    The Rowan's my main priority. Would you do it now or in spring? Can I cut the trunks down to ground level?

    If I do take a bit off the Acer would you do that at this time of year or in Spring?

    Thanks for your time

    Jon

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    take the rowan down now (unless your somewhere like the highlands of Scotland where you're going to get seriously cold weather)

    take them back as hard as you can, to the trunk if possible and keep an eye next year as they'll try and reshoot. I would be tempted to leave two or three nice stems as multi stem rowans look quite nice.

    I tend to prune Acers if I have too in late summer (august usually), that way the flush of spring has happened and its not going to bleed too much and it gives it a bit of time to heal over before winter hits.

  • jonathan_d_hubbardjonathan_d_hubbard Posts: 3

    Would you seal the cuts with anything to stop the re-shoots. My trunks all come out of the ground very close to each other, rather than being low on the main trunk

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