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Pruning blossom tree that is grown strangely

tommyallen8727364tommyallen8727364 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
I have a blossom tree outside my house which I think is growing strangely. The branches are going in all sorts of directions and browning back on themselves. Looks very different to the other trees on the road. It also has quite a lot of dead branches and lichen on branches. I’d like to prune it hard next year in the hope it will encourage better growth. Can anyone advise on what is causing this and how best to prune it? 

Posts

  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Hi Tommy ... and welcome. 🙂

    You could trim out any branches now that you think are dead and then after it has flowered next spring, you could tackle shaping it a bit better.   That should encourage it to regenerate and grow a little more compactly.  
  • tommyallen8727364tommyallen8727364 Posts: 3
    ViewAhead said:
    Hi Tommy ... and welcome. 🙂

    You could trim out any branches now that you think are dead and then after it has flowered next spring, you could tackle shaping it a bit better.   That should encourage it to regenerate and grow a little more compactly.  
    Thanks @ViewAhead
    For the spring prune, do you think there is a % I should prune to? Like I could cut back 30% but don't do more than that say? 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Is this a Prunus? A flowering Cherry or similar?

    Prunus should not be pruned in the winter months because that makes them susceptible to Silver Leaf Disease … they  should  only pruned  around midsummer. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    tommyallen8727364 said:
    ViewAhead said:
    Hi Tommy ... and welcome. 🙂

    You could trim out any branches now that you think are dead and then after it has flowered next spring, you could tackle shaping it a bit better.   That should encourage it to regenerate and grow a little more compactly.  
    Thanks @ViewAhead
    For the spring prune, do you think there is a % I should prune to? Like I could cut back 30% but don't do more than that say? 
    I wouldn't do more than that in one go if possible.  Maybe take a few photos when it is in flower and then when you come to prune it, that might help decide which bits to remove.  Some blossom trees do naturally have growth that looks a bit spindly and erratic. 

    @Dovefromabove, do you think it would be better to leave any obviously-dead bits on for now?  
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My  problem with removing dead bits now is that you’re always advised to cut back until you reach live wood … and once you cut into live wood in the winter your tree becomes susceptible to Silver Leaf. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Fair point. 🙂  
  • tommyallen8727364tommyallen8727364 Posts: 3
    Thanks for the information everyone - very helpful. I will tackle this tree next summer
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    We look forward to pictures. 👍
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