I'm not familiar with those cultivars but what you propose sounds right to me.

As the person who probably has most often proclaimed late winter/early spring to be the best of the best times for pruning the vast majority of woody plants, I'd like to offer that most any time of year is generally going to work out just fine. So, if you really prefer to do this work in mid-summer or whenever, just do it. Bud break time and that period during which the plant(s) are preparing for leaf senescence are the two to avoid.

+oM

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm on board with your timing suggestion dependent on species. I just wasn't sure how theses particlar species develop buds and if timing would impact ability to develop more compact, dense branching given the goal.

Similar to candlestick pruning on Pines in June before the needles unbundle, cutting back new growth on spruces or fir in early June or shearing Yew, Arb and Juniper is pretty well documented but not so much with these decidious conifers.

"For cultivars like Ginkgo 'Mariken', Taxodium distichum 'Peve Minaret', Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Schirrmann's Nordlicht' and Larix laricina 'Blue Sparkler".

I prune, shear all these about this time of year to the desired shape I want them for next year. I do not pay any attention to bud set. They all fill in very nicely in the Spring and stay within their allotted space through the growing season. I have been doing it this way for years.

Dave

Simple as that...looks like I'm headed down the right path.

Thanks!

yes.. use the nuditity of the deciduous plants.. to your advantage ... at least until you are so experienced.. it doesnt matter ... [new word of the day.. lol]

i am surprised .. as new as your plantings are.. that you are already contemplating pruning ... both here and in the tree forum ...

just keep in mind.. severe topping can have a major impact on recent transplants ... they need those leaves/needles to grow the roots toward full establishment. .. which i am sure you already know ...

a little nip and tuck.. guidance, one might say.. surely wont matter ...

ken

"i am surprised .. as new as your plantings are.. that you are already contemplating pruning ... both here and in the tree forum".

Ken some of my cultivars are 15 years old.

When pruning everything matters. I do it to achieve the look I want. Nothing has died.

Thanks for your guidance and concerns. Always appreciated.

Come and see my garden and you will understand why I do the things I do.

Dave

dave ... mr smarty pants.. its WILL's post..

i was addressing his NEW garden ...

not your masterpiece .. and your vast knowledge of how to keep things in bounds in your smaller garden ....

so... do you go after plants immediately after planting ???? .. i find it hard to believe.. that your large specimens .. newly shipped across county.. are so vigorous .. that that first fall/winter .. after spring planting ..... you go at them with the machete ????

ken

Ken,

Sorry for the mistake. You could have just left it as that.

Since you didn't....You have become the Mr.New Smarty Pants

Dave

This post was edited by dcsteg on Tue, Nov 27, 12 at 17:03

Yes, just a little nip tuck to begin with. Bud placement was really my concern/question.

Dave, I'm digging the new edit feature!lol!

Whass...I had reservations but meant what I said.

Thought for the day: Be who you are and say what you feel ... because those that matter... don't mind ... and those that mind ...don't matter!

Dave