Questions tagged [pruning]

Questions about how to best cut plant branches, vines or stems. For questions about root pruning please use the [root-pruning] tag.

"Pruning" is the act of cutting a plant's branch (typically of a or ), or (of a , , etc.).

Pruning is performed primarily to produce a better shaped plant, or to promote new growth of branches or .

In many cases, prunings (i.e. the discarded branches) can be used as to create new plants.

In rare situation even roots could be pruned to remove rotten parts, or to be able to remove a plant from an outgrown pot, etc. For questions like these use the tag.

582 questions
2
votes
0 answers

Fiddle fig transplant cutting and rooting

So I have a 7ft fiddle fig plant that I purchased around six months ago. It grew around 5 feet since I got this and I would like to transplant it into the pot that you can see in the picture next to it. I did create drainage holes. I just want to…
Joseph Wit
  • 1,136
  • 6
  • 17
  • 26
2
votes
2 answers

How old should a cottonwood be for me to start pruning it for bonsai?

This little bonsai cottonwood has been growing now for about 3 months. He is about 6 inches tall now and has been transplanted from his little cup to a bigger cup! I am wondering, when would be a good time to start pruning his foliage and roots?…
Rob
  • 1,650
  • 5
  • 16
2
votes
0 answers

Guava tree pruning

I pruned my 10 year old Guava tree to half the size in June 2018. I am worried as it doesn't produce new shoots yet.This is Septemeber. My question is about how long I have to wait to see new leaves?
2
votes
1 answer

Prune bleeding heart bush?

Should I prune our bleeding heart bush when it turns yellow? We planted it in a sunny area. It did amazing during spring but now looking very yellow and scorched.
RSH
  • 31
  • 1
2
votes
1 answer

dying chilli plants

I have a few chilli plants. initially 4 or 5 of them were in a same pot. Quickly they grew quite big and really strong and I thought it's time to move them to different pots and so I did. I repotted them and pruned them. However, after 3-4 days most…
Srijani Ghosh
  • 487
  • 1
  • 5
  • 21
2
votes
1 answer

How to care for bent avocado tree

I have an avocado tree I started from a pit. It has lived in upstate New York indoors and has grown tall and skinny. I recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia and so can have it outdoors more. The tree is somewhat crooked. Should I prune it? (Possibly…
bill999
  • 719
  • 1
  • 5
  • 17
2
votes
0 answers

Growing patio/dwarf fruit trees to half standard

Is it possible to grow trees larger than their intended (nursery) size? My mom accidentally bought a 'patio' cherry tree supposedly it will grow to 1.4meter/4,6ft I was wondering if I could try and select a new leader and slowly encourage it to grow…
David
  • 153
  • 6
2
votes
0 answers

When trimming a tree, what does the term "branch angle to the trunk" mean and, what is the ideal angle?

In a document provided by the city of Montreal for home onwners, it states "Choose branches that form a wide angle (50° to 100°) to the trunk which encourage them to bear fruit." In the French version of the same document, it states 50° to…
alberto56
  • 121
  • 2
2
votes
1 answer

Avocado pruning

I have about two year old avocado that doesn't seem to be doing that well. It grows new leaves from time to time but the older leaves tend to turn brown at the same rate. It's an indoor avocado that is grown from seed. It is also grown quite tall…
2
votes
3 answers

Can any tree be kept around 12ft high and 6ft wide indefinitely with appropriate pruning?

I've been searching for trees to plant on the side of a road in zone 10. Most of the trees I like have mature heights and widths way larger than what I'd like. So in general, can all large trees be pruned to your desired size or is this question…
rgarc101
  • 85
  • 5
2
votes
0 answers

Question about pruning and health of Orange tree

I am in south Louisiana, and we recently have had a much colder than average winter. I have an orange tree in my backyard and I was planning on pruning it in the spring, and I am wondering about the overall health of the tree as well as where/how…
2
votes
1 answer

Should this Magnolia grandiflora be pruned?

This is a 16 year old Magnolia grandiflora in zone 8a. Should it be pruned, or left alone?
VividD
  • 5,810
  • 3
  • 21
  • 63
2
votes
1 answer

How does one create a sparse canopy?

I am looking to grow a fig tree indoors and was very inspired by these pictures. Assuming that isn't somehow unhealthy for the tree, how would one get a purchased tree that comes like this to obtain the tall and spread out shape from the first…
alee122
  • 21
  • 1
2
votes
1 answer

How to approach liquidambar with respect to pruning?

I've got two young liquidambars, both planted in last two months, both 70-90 cm high, but from different nurseries. One of them is basically just one erect branch with leaves, and another has a main branch and 5-6 erect branches branching very…
VividD
  • 5,810
  • 3
  • 21
  • 63
2
votes
1 answer

What to do with surplus thuja leaves after pruning?

We all know that there are tons of thuja leaves after pruning thuja hedges. Can thuja leaves be used as mulch (perhaps for acid-loving plants, let's say young pines, or vaccinum)? What if they are put in a compost pile? I've read something about…
VividD
  • 5,810
  • 3
  • 21
  • 63