Branch Removal

Rigamarole

Hi all.

Last spring I took the leap to deciduous. Hopefully they will come out of their dormancy as we have had an very cold winter thus far in TN.

My question is regarding Tridents and Chinese Elms. I have read conflicting information as to the best time to do branch removal. Some say remove branches after buds break, others say before buds break in Feb.

Also, my Trident is a double trunk but both trunks are roughly the same diameter and height. I would like to chop one of the trunks.
When is the right time

Any help appreciated.

Mike

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TreeBay

I do trunk chops before the buds break. Branch removal is less critical, but the chief danger with any type of major pruning is withdrawal of sap (dieback), which can result if there is no actively growing node(s) beneath the point at which you cut the branch. Sometimes then the trunk will die back on one side or the other to the next healthy branch.

Regards,

Matt

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Frank Kelly

I do any major branch pruning on maples at this time of year once any severe frost is out of the way. Maples tend to bleed a bit if pruned as the buds are swelling

Rigamarole

Thanks guys, most helpful.

I do not see any nodes beneath the location of the trunk I was thinking of chopping. It is a double trunk with a base of 4.5" and each individual trunk about 2" diameter and 14" tall. The trunk splits about 2" above the root base. I would like to keep it a double trunk but since they are the same size, I want to chop one of them and start another smaller trunk. Does the node requirement beneath the chop still apply since there will still be the other trunk remaining? Also, do you recommend chopping one of the trunks straight across or at an angle??

I doubt we have seen the last of severe frosts here, last week it got below zero. The tree is currently in my garage which has been staying in the high 20's at night. I will probably wait a couple of weeks to chop it. Wish I had a crystal ball to tell me when the last frost will occur!?! Like I mentioned, this is my first winter with deciduous and I am just a bit nervous.

Thanks again.

Mike

Hitza

I have heard that correct time when remove branche is when the buds are swelled. So right before the buds break.
It also depends on the species.

Opethianlynn

The species... right. So, how well is this same advice for ficus?

I'm trying to figure out if a branch is dead or not. If it is, I have Bonsai Techniques I to clue me in on how the branch should be removed. I just don't recall seeing anything in there about the time of year to do it. I've attached a link to a photo of the kind of ficus I'm talking about. (The branch I'm considering removing is out of view, in back.) I'd appreciate any advice on time of year to remove a dead branch on these kinds of trees. It's been sprouting new leaves like crazy ever since I gave it a new light source. Seems to like it.

http://hstrial-jlynn1.homestead.com/bonsai.html

-J. Lynn