I know there has been a thread about pruning conifers recently - but just want to check that what I'd like to do is OK...this is my thuya occidentalis...I think I ought to remove its straggly top. Would it be OK to do it now?
..as it's mild it shouldn't be a problem, these are hardy specimens, but with mine, I will probably wait until April as it might want doing as well then... I like these very much...
it looks to me like Thuya occidentalis Smaragd to me. That's a fairly typical form.
Avoid falling into the trap of "tidying up" which, to me eye often detracts from the Natural beauty. ( apart from formal topiary, obviously )but each to his own.
I'd leave it until spring, but please make sure you don't have any small birds e.g. wrens nesting in there.
...in a way, I agree with that... I rather like the so called straggly top of these, and it's the leading shoots vigorously growing away there, and I find that quite attractive on these conifers...
...however at some point I shall need to stop mine as they just grow and grow and mine is around 6 foot tall and I'm not wanting it much higher..... but it's in the open ground....
... this one here is against the home, and to me it looks very much like an older style Park Home (mobile home)...and it's not ideal really to have bushes and conifers right against the walls of the home (timber frame can cause moisture problems).... so here I would remove the top and keep it compact, maybe shorten it somewhat, as before too long it will be as tall as the property.....
..in case you're not aware of this, (I think you are).. but make sure to keep those air vents clear along the base...the earth is quite close to the vents...there's one behind the Fuchsia and another further along... they look alright for the moment...
Thanks to all those who have helped me decide.....I am going to remove the straggly top, mainly to restrict its height. There is no timber frame, Salino - this is part of the front of our bungalow. I appreciated your comments about the air vents. This is usually a very pretty border: two nandinas, two hydrangeas, seven fuchsias, the thuja and numerous bulbs. I'll post a prettier photo later in the year. (Don't know how I managed to get two this time!)
to clarify, when I said avoid " tidying up" I was referring to those Mr Blobby gardens where everything looks like it's been got at with a pair of shears. I'm sure we've all seen them eh?
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..as it's mild it shouldn't be a problem, these are hardy specimens, but with mine, I will probably wait until April as it might want doing as well then... I like these very much...
it looks to me like Thuya occidentalis Smaragd to me. That's a fairly typical form.
Avoid falling into the trap of "tidying up" which, to me eye often detracts from the Natural beauty. ( apart from formal topiary, obviously )but each to his own.
I'd leave it until spring, but please make sure you don't have any small birds e.g. wrens nesting in there.
...in a way, I agree with that... I rather like the so called straggly top of these, and it's the leading shoots vigorously growing away there, and I find that quite attractive on these conifers...
...however at some point I shall need to stop mine as they just grow and grow and mine is around 6 foot tall and I'm not wanting it much higher..... but it's in the open ground....
... this one here is against the home, and to me it looks very much like an older style Park Home (mobile home)...and it's not ideal really to have bushes and conifers right against the walls of the home (timber frame can cause moisture problems).... so here I would remove the top and keep it compact, maybe shorten it somewhat, as before too long it will be as tall as the property.....
..in case you're not aware of this, (I think you are).. but make sure to keep those air vents clear along the base...the earth is quite close to the vents...there's one behind the Fuchsia and another further along... they look alright for the moment...
...sorry for preaching...lol...
Thanks to all those who have helped me decide.....I am going to remove the straggly top, mainly to restrict its height. There is no timber frame, Salino - this is part of the front of our bungalow. I appreciated your comments about the air vents. This is usually a very pretty border: two nandinas, two hydrangeas, seven fuchsias, the thuja and numerous bulbs. I'll post a prettier photo later in the year. (Don't know how I managed to get two this time!)
..it is a very pretty border Berkley... sorry I thought you had a Park Home there..the roof reminded me as if it belonged to one of those...
...look forward to seeing some more... best wishes...
to clarify, when I said avoid " tidying up" I was referring to those Mr Blobby gardens where everything looks like it's been got at with a pair of shears. I'm sure we've all seen them eh?