To prune or not to prune, that is the question

renatthecat

I have heard conflicting information about prunning. First I learnt that prunning selected branches will increase the size of the adjacent ones. On the other hand, I also learnt that keeping a branch will allow the tree to develop a larger trunk because foliage requires circulacion and a bigger trunck to allow it. It will also develop an area in the tree and some colleagues even delay cutting a branch in order to develop adjacent ones (the sacrifice branch). I need help to understand this riddle.

Elmo, the Seiju Elm whose picture I hope will appear below is 16 in. tall and about to be prunned. Please help me with suggestions.

Best wishes,
Renato

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TreeBay

Hello Renat,

The branches will grow in proportion to the foliage load on them. So a twig will help its respective branch to grow, and so the trunk will increase in size.

The apex of most trees is also prone to growing the most, and therefore can become thick in size. By fooling the tree into believing a low branch (sacrifice branch) is its apex, the tree will divert more growth to that branch. It will help to thicken the points below where it attaches to the trunk, and will help to divert growth away from the branches that attach above it.

Elms can be pretty shrubby, that is they will throw any variety of branches all over the trunk. And the love to bud from places where other branches are already forming. This can lead to the development of knots or bulges in the trunk. I think you can see one formed about midway up the trunk of your tree before it was pruned back to one side branch there were probably several at that point.

There is also a knot beginning to form up at the top where the dozen or so branches come from the same place.

One could prune it back to just two largest branches at that point, or consider doing that AND putting it into a large growing box or in the ground to develop that trunk somewhat.

Others might have different ideas?

Regards,

Matt

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Tony

Matt pretty well summed it up for you. I'll just add that in my experience with elms and sacrifice branches it's best to have them real low, down around the root buttress. They will still make the bulges that Matt spoke of but they'll tend to blend in better. Further up on the trunk they can leave bulges to the point of reverse taper which can ruin the design.

Tony