Pruning cassia fistula

13 years ago

Hello,

We have recently planted a golden shower tree in our front garden. It lost its original leader, but following an intensely hot and wet summer it seems to be doing well. We are wanting to prune the tree to encourage height and eventually a nice bushy spreading canopy, but have no idea where to start. I have uploaded an image of the tree and would welcome advice/recommendations for pruning to encourage a nice shape.

Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

ashratnam

13 years ago

Congradulations on a wonderful choice of tree. I couldn't get a clear view of the tree either, but based on the cassias I've seen, and considering how yours is on the side of the house, I guess you wouldn't be looking at a canopy like form, and instead just allow one main leader branch to grow up and attain height, and for now let as many accessory leaflets grow for photosynthesis. A good shape would be something like an overgrown bush, with several main branches protruding on all sides so your flowers hang nicely. Trim away any unwanted accessory branchlets which take away from the main leader stem when they're young, because they tend to wooden up. When it reaches the height you want, start trimming the top of the leader stem and then allow it to spread. If it grows robustly, this is a simple tree to prune, and gives you lots of opportunities to make ammends for any mistakes.
Do you have any recent pics?
And also, could you address a problem I'm having with mine by following the link? Bestalux!

Here is a link that might be useful: Casia fistula just won't grow!

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Comments (7)

brandon7 TN_zone7
13 years ago
I knew Australia was on the bottom of the world, but I never realized that pictures from there would appear upside down. I tried twisting my neck to see the picture the way I'd expect it to look up here closer to the top of the world, but I still can't tell much and am not about to hoist myself upside down from the ceiling just to see the picture.

In general, just like most other trees, pick a leader and limb it up as it grows. I probably wouldn't remove all the limbs any higher than the bottom 1/3 of the trunk.
Andreamarie78
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Brandon7, weird re image, it was the right way up when I previewed the post!
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Andreamarie78
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks ashratam. I've uploaded a few new pics, it's growing we'll, but I'm still too scared to prune in case I ruin the eventual shape. Even though it is in our front yard, I am wanting to create a high spreading canopy rather than a bush. Our little tree has grown at least 2 meters since we planted it in January. No special care, but the soil is quite clayey and we had an incredibly wet and hot summer here plus it gets sun most of the day. The tree definitely liked these conditions!
Andreamarie78
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks ashratam. I've uploaded a few new pics, it's growing we'll, but I'm still too scared to prune in case I ruin the eventual shape. Even though it is in our front yard, I am wanting to create a high spreading canopy rather than a bush. Our little tree has grown at least 2 meters since we planted it in January. No special care, but the soil is quite clayey and we had an incredibly wet and hot summer here plus it gets sun most of the day. The tree definitely liked these conditions!
nqokuching
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Leaves of my cassia fistula tree (still small, about 2 and a half metres high) have turned brown but it is still alive. What can I do to restore it to green leaves? Also, how do I prune to minimise height i.e. I would like it to be less than 5 metres high) so should I cut off the top please? Thanks 😊 Anne
HU-428609822
3 years ago
I have the same problem in Qld. I have planted it on my front boundary (no fence) and I wondered if it was a mistake? It is about 6 metres from the house. I don't want it to become enormous and worry about the roots? Can I just chop the top off?