The "right" way to prune

[Jonny]

Good to read you @Mick Demosey

If memory serves, you had some pics of some rather beautiful pollarding work. I’d love to see them again sometime

 

[miguel in new mexico]

Do urban trees with small, limited root zones count as bonsai?

 

[southsoundtree]

Mick, just making a joke, at my expense. No response needed to my comment about my sometimes hard to understand posts.

I'm happy to be on a real keyboard for a change.

 

[southsoundtree]

Do urban trees with small, limited root zones count as bonsai?

If you're serious, not at all.

 

[owScott]

Do urban trees with small, limited root zones count as bonsai?

Definition of bonsai, planted in container.

 

[southsoundtree]

Washington's Pacific Bonsai Museum Is One Of Only Two In The Country

Every Washingtonian should check out this magical museum in Federal Way, which is one of only two in the U.S.

www.onlyinyourstate.com

I haven't been here yet.


I've got a number of trees in pots for Bonsai. I've been letting them be crowded. Haven't learned anything worthwhile about bonsai care. One nice western redcedar mostly died from drought stress, leaving one nice, low limb. Not at home, so no pic.

 

[miguel in new mexico]

Definition of bonsai, planted in container.

I guess a "container" is portable- and a small urban root zone is "contained" but not a container.

 

[Reach]

Washington's Pacific Bonsai Museum Is One Of Only Two In The Country

Every Washingtonian should check out this magical museum in Federal Way, which is one of only two in the U.S.

www.onlyinyourstate.com

I haven't been here yet.


I've got a number of trees in pots for Bonsai. I've been letting them be crowded. Haven't learned anything worthwhile about bonsai care. One nice western redcedar mostly died from drought stress, leaving one nice, low limb. Not at home, so no pic.

I’ve never heard of that, but I’ve seen some amazing Bonzai trees at Longwood Gardens. They have at least one over 100 years old.

 

[evo]

I dont like the term "shaping" which to me indicates indiscriminate rounding over to create an image of how a tree should look in someones mind. This is a term I would use in shearing hedges or bushes. I dont recall "shaping" as a pruning term in ISA standards. Crown reduction and end weight reduction addresses a different goal, which ultimately does effect the outline of the tree. Shaping is a term homeowners throw out because they basically dont know what they are saying.

"Shaping" makes me want to walk off site. There is a certain demographic, mostly middle age to older women who cannot let go of this term

 

[evo]

I’ve never heard of that, but I’ve seen some amazing Bonzai trees at Longwood Gardens. They have at least one over 100 years old.

Shit, I didn't even know about it.. I thought there was one in DC?

 

[Reach]

Shit, I didn't even know about it.. I thought there was one in DC?

There may be, I’m not real sure what DC has. I just know what I’ve seen at Longwood.

 

[owScott]

"Shaping" makes me want to walk off site. There is a certain demographic, mostly middle age to older women who cannot let go of this term

Sometimes if the mood catches me I will respond with" what shape would you like me to make it". Got a company out here that has "god makes em we shape em" on the side of their trucks. Total hacks.

 

[evo]

Sometimes if the mood catches me I will respond with" what shape would you like me to make it". Got a company out here that has "god makes em we shape em" on the side of their trucks. Total hacks.

"B*tt Plugs, and Buttered b@lls". Is what we the crews who do this.. I had a pleaching/topiary job (contract) for a few years. My argument was, if we are going to do this, lets do it right, "Nahh, just make it look like that just by pruning." was the reply. So a hand snipped square topped tree is what they got.

@Tom Dunlap let me know if this is skating it.. When I first heard it I had some beer come out of my nose.

 

[southsoundtree]

Bonsai requires great input, not just limiting factors such as small root zone.

 

[Vicente]

Here's a bonsai a friend of mine has he's worked on it from the start he's had it 5 years now, notice all the wires keeping the limbs in place. He's got several different species he's started and shaped. I'd love to do one but deer are a huge pita here and that's been curbing my desire to put that much time and effort into a tree.

 

[canopyking]

I'll just remove the deadwood. Thanks for everyone's input......I think.

 

[Jonny]

Well this was fun.

Just out of curiosity, is there some growth approaching the house roof in that pic?

Possibly see a need for some weight reduction?
I don’t, but one pic isn’t a lot to go on.
A dozen pics isn’t really a lot to go on usually.

 

[Vicente]

Well this was fun.

Just out of curiosity, is there some growth approaching the house roof in that pic?

Possibly see a need for some weight reduction?
I don’t, but one pic isn’t a lot to go on.
A dozen pics isn’t really a lot to go on usually.

I love when people text me a few pictures of a tree to see how much it'll be.

 

[TreeVB]

“Prune tree for improved structural integrity to reduce likelihood of bio mechanical failures. These pruning cuts will be at the ends/tips of limbs for maximum leverage reduction from target limbs with weak branch attachment or limbs that stick outside of canopy profile. All live growth cuts will be in wood of 3” diameter or less. Remove hazardous deadwood of 1.5” in diameter and larger (smaller if in direct climbing path). ALL interior growth will be left alone for health, vigor, and longevity of tree.” The enter any functionality pruning as needed.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Around 2007 I reduced this lime tree (basswood in the US) it is in a courtyard in front of a small rural house.
It was what we call a Maiden (never been trimmed or worked on before)
branches were brushing over the roof and it was dominating the space.
So I reduced it overall, height, sides, shaping, topping, whatever you call it, no need to go to live growth on those trees.
These photos date from 2015 when I went back and re-did it, I was at the property last year and we talked about doing it again soon.

Allowing it to continue to get bigger was not an option, neither was taking it out. I am certain long after I retire someone else will be re-doing it periodically.

In short reduction can extend the life of trees.

Species and situation dependent of course.