pruning/trimming blue atlas cedars

ratherbclimbing

ratherbclimbing

Location
Knoxville TN
I have to prune and trim two blue atlas cedars Friday. They both are right next to the customers house in corners. They are about 25 foot tall and are spread out about half that much. Both need to be trimmed off of the house and one has had the lower branches removed on one side for the walkway to the front door. Now its sister limbs are reaching the walkway as well. The customer informed me that this species will die back from cutting the limbs back.I haven't found any thing to support this online. Any advice about this would be appreciated. I understand that these trees will loose there beauty and symmetry by removing lower limbs and trimming back off of the house but removing is out of the question.
 
I love this tree and have planted many including in my yard. I wouldn't do cut backs or remove bottom limbs but rather just remove house side limbs as nec. to proper collar cuts on main stem. Probably planted too close to the house for such a large growing species.

Sounds like you have some knowledgeable clients and I would walk softly around them. Any picts.?
 
Treevet I don't have pics right now but will...need to figure out how to post from my android phone.

They want the lower limbs gone on one because they are in the way of the front door's walkway. Which their front door is actually facing away from the street. There is actually very little pruning that needs to be done to get them off of the house. That's why I was asking can I just take a certain percentage off of a limb without risking dieback? If I take them all the way to the main stem it will make the whole tree look like crap. However, if that's the only proper way on this species I will discuss it with the customer and go from there.
 
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The customer informed me that this species will die back from cutting the limbs back.

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This is completely false. Blue atlas cedars take to pruning very well. I plant them often to use as espalier plants just because you can cut them back to any grow and it will thrive. The problem is the trunks will get large despite the radical pruning. You can prune there trees into bushy poles if you like. Don't cut the limb back to the collar unless you don't want the branch. If the customer told you the branches didn't take to cutting them back, it's only because the branch had problems to begin with. I would say it suffered from a drought condition just before cutting. Of coarse don't take to much at once. If you follow some kind of 2/3 rds rule you can turn into any size you want.
 
Just got rained out minutes ago so took a quick pict. on client's property, branch of Montessory School. You can try light cut backs. They even work on spruce at times when real light. This one's too close too. Rainy day doesn't enhance but is beautiful in sun.

Don't think I would disfigure the natural shape of this tree like suggested above whether or not a branch will survive. The growth characteristic is some of what is attractive about Blue atlas cedar.
 

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Don't think I would disfigure the natural shape of this tree like suggested above whether or not a branch will survive. The growth characteristic is some of what is attractive about Blue atlas cedar.

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I didn't suggest disfiguring the tree. The op asked if the tree takes to cutting back. I say you can cut it back and it will thrive. Not like a spruce. Of coarse lower shaded branches won't thrive as well but I would do a thinning of the entire tree if it was applicable.
 
blue atlas are planted at corners of houses/commercial buildings a lot, similar to river birch they get bigger than most people prefer to have so close. They fit well and look nice for a while.

Off topic, but a growth regulator is a good tool for a situation like this. maintain size and prolong pruning cycle. I'm not sure, but I think spruce are a tough one to regulate though once over 6in dbh? Have to check me on that?

Just a thought.
 
Aaron yes the dose rate is high and results uneven, I have heard.

re branches dying if reduced, depends in large part on sun exposure, % foliage left, does it not?
 
Correct me if I am wrong. It seems to me the problem is this... Trees have been planted and the HO expects them to be cared for as though they are shrubs.
This is a common problem and first you need to explain to them the trees are "the right church wrong pew". then you need to inform them as to the end result of the type of pruning that they are asking you to do..
Remember you are the professional and you need to be confident that your knowledge is correct or you should walk away.

IMO... Steve
 
Interesting you mentioned river birch! They had me go to another house they are selling and they have two river birch that are right up against the house in corners. There obviously isn't enough room for the trees. I recommended removing one and pruning the other back. They are selling the house so I don't really understand why the are worried about it.

What species of tree would you guys recommend to replace the blue atlas and river birch. Or would you guys go with a shrub?
 
Atlas Cedar branches and stems will often die-back to the nearest live branch or twig. If that's 2 feet lower, then that's 2 feet of dieback. But that's in a stub-cut scenerio.

If there is little foliage remaining on stubs, even if the existing visible buds grow, the decay and weakening can be very significant.

More or less, crown reduction would need to be done moderately, cutting back to existing limbs, not merely cross-cutting stems and leaving just stubs.

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Thanks for the input! Will talk to the home owner more Friday on site. Probably going to trim the lower branches back off of the walkway. I will stay in contact with them and if they die back I'll go there on my own and remove them.
 
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