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How much to cut back??

theresa.mcnamara96073theresa.mcnamara96073 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi any advice on much to cut this tree back and when, and how much to cut Ramblibg Rosie back and when - thank you 

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    It looks like quite an old tree - any idea what it is? It might make a difference to the pruning advice.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It depends on what tree it is eg cherries and plums can get ill if pruned in the winter.

    Rambling Rosie doesn't look as though it needs much pruning, just tying in and tidying up. You can shorten the canes a bit that you feel are too long. With climbers you cut all the side shoots to 2 or 3 buds and they flower on new wood. R. Rosie is a rambler although a repeat flowering one so she will flower on old wood too. When she gets old woody stems you can cut them out, but she doesn't look very old.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • theresa.mcnamara96073theresa.mcnamara96073 Posts: 4
    Thank you, I’m not sure what it is, some sort of cherry blossom? It blossoms usually towards the end of April, and looks like this in September, it is old as we’ve been here for 18 years and really want to preserve it, but it’s twisting and getting much taller?? (It’s the only clear picture I could find!) I love it and the birds love it too
  • theresa.mcnamara96073theresa.mcnamara96073 Posts: 4
    And thank you, Rambling Rosie will be 3 in March, will tidy her up then 😊
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    I think the winter shape of your tree, the old branches and newer weeping ones is lovely.
    It reminds me of the old Whomping willow in the Harry Potter films.
    But yours looks less intimidating and better behaved.

    As it is looks and sounds like it is a  (weeping) cherry?
    It might be Cheals weeping cherry, have a look and see if it matches the blossom.

    I would carefully find a good arbouriculturalist ( Tree surgeon) if you want to keep it and take care of it.
    Looks like you already trim the lower branches and it looks very healthy.
    Would the branches weep right down to ground level if you let it? I appreciate you may not have the room to do that but just another pointer to help identify it.

    We have a repeat flowering rambler (Perennial Blue) and I tend to remove whole older stems when the colour compared to newer growths looks pale and yellowy as a rough guide. They do get woody as Busy Lizzie said, but also look at the colour.
    You can usually tell when the older stems flower less prolifically it is time to cut a few out . 

  • theresa.mcnamara96073theresa.mcnamara96073 Posts: 4
    Rubytoo said:
    I think the winter shape of your tree, the old branches and newer weeping ones is lovely.
    It reminds me of the old Whomping willow in the Harry Potter films.
    But yours looks less intimidating and better behaved.

    As it is looks and sounds like it is a  (weeping) cherry?
    It might be Cheals weeping cherry, have a look and see if it matches the blossom.

    I would carefully find a good arbouriculturalist ( Tree surgeon) if you want to keep it and take care of it.
    Looks like you already trim the lower branches and it looks very healthy.
    Would the branches weep right down to ground level if you let it? I appreciate you may not have the room to do that but just another pointer to help identify it.

    We have a repeat flowering rambler (Perennial Blue) and I tend to remove whole older stems when the colour compared to newer growths looks pale and yellowy as a rough guide. They do get woody as Busy Lizzie said, but also look at the colour.
    You can usually tell when the older stems flower less prolifically it is time to cut a few out . 

    Yes if we left the branches they would definitely weep across the ground, we have let it do this before but we usually trim it to shape a couple of times a year. Thank you, I’ve had a look at some images and yes I think it is a weeping Cherry, just not sure which one, possibly a Japanese weeping Cherry? I will have to take a closer photograph of the blossom in the spring! It blossoms once, and thank you will do a bit of tidying of Rambling Rosie. Thanks very much 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Is there any live growth coming from the lower thick side branches? If not, I think I'd cut them back to the main trunk when it's the right time to prune it. To my eye, the thin weeping/cascading branches would look better allowed to drape down longer rather than all trimmed off at the same level into the umbrella shape, but if you need the space underneath it I suppose they have to be trimmed.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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