Pruning Spruce and Pine

15 years ago

Do most of you advise to prune your pines/spruces to get more branching or do you only do this if you need to contain the size?

Also do you recommend breaking the shoots/candles or use a pruner? I have a feeling its a horse a piece but like to get your thoughts.

I get the impression the best time (really the only time so the buds can form) to prune is just as the needles start to separate from the shoots/candles...typically mid-June.

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Comments (8)

dcsteg
15 years ago
Whass

This link should answer all your concerns.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: link
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
one might argue ... that every leaf/needle .. is a food processing machine ... and that no leaves should be sacrificed ... until a tree is fully established ...

so whats your plan man???? werent they all planted this spring ....

would you be cutting the 18 month olds calories.. because he is a bit chubby??? or would you wait until she is not in an hyperactive growth phase [growing roots to further the analogy]

ken
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whaas_5a
Original Author
15 years ago
Dave, thanks for the link. The spruce and fir pruning video is probably the best I've seen. The youtube videos are lacking

Ken, I rarely go for the chubby ones...except conifers. In this case I'm looking to for knowledge so when the time is right I can act appropriately. I have a couple pines (see below) that are quite thin. The P. densiflora 'Golden Ghost' only has 4 scaffolding branches and the plant is 3.5' tall. I want to start chubbing up this one as soon as it puts out decent sized candles.

Chubby...
{{gwi:785193}}

Not so chubby...
{{gwi:819022}}

And not so chubby again...
{{gwi:819023}}

{{gwi:465663}}
gardener365
15 years ago
Leave them be brother. Don't mess with nature unless you have multiple leaders or are keeping a plant at bay due to space constrictions.

I'm sure you'll fence your temp bed, just a reminder.

Dax
whaas_5a
Original Author
15 years ago
Sorry, I didn't proof my post and must have pasted that extra pic in there.

Dax,

You bet I'm going to fence that in. I've seen a couple rabbits poke there head in from the shrubs eye up the prize.

You want to trade your short chubby 'Golden Ghost' for my long and thin 'Golden Ghost'?lol?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
GGhost is NEVER going to look like an xmas tree ...

its much more scrawny ...

ken
gardener365
15 years ago
Be thankful you have a graft/correct scion no matter the size.

Dax
whaas_5a
Original Author
15 years ago
hah, consider that a challenge!

I will however do as you guys say with "leaving" them to do their thing. I'm 100% for that strategy.

BUT for the 'Golden Ghost'...once it starts shooting out candles on par with its growth rate I'm going to candle it so that I can get more "new growth" tips! That way I won't have to invest in lighting around the yard.