....... The right side of the tree had major sun damage long ago....

....... The left side would make for nice cuttings with another season of growth......

.......The left side also has a ton of "nubs" that have been slowly forming for a couple years....

I see a creepy face. At least it appears to be smiling!
Sorry I can't help you with the pruning question, I guess I'd just go for it and make some nice cuttings!

This post was edited by disneyhorse on Mon, Apr 28, 14 at 19:11

....... This is where I'd like to do my pruning, making cuttings out of the branches......

......Here's another view....

My plan was to cut the side with the sun damage next season, giving that side an opportunity to form nubs. This hopefully would allow those nubs to catch up a little to the ones I currently have on the left side. Two seasons from now I would cut the left side just above the nubs.

What do you guys think?

P. S. - here's some flower porn for your time...... ;)

Jason

@ Disney - if u listen @ night they talk to you

That's 1 for cut now, thanks for playing..... :)

.....Here's one last pic of the nub side.....

Bump... Hoping one of the pruning wizards here can give some input....

Thanks Nativec, hope it works. Thanks for the good vibes!

Anyone? I know you experienced pruners are out there..... :P

I think it depends on the look you are trying to create. You should cut a few inches higher above or below the "v" if you want it to branch. You can reference Jim Little's book for information.

astrl

Jason...

This is my opinion.. Again, not an expert.

The last pic with the Y. I would cut below the nubby Y to the closest clean woody area. Then take the cut top portion and cut the two new cuttings above the connection. Close to where you have the red lines. So, in other words.. You are cutting off that center connection and starting with a fresh woody area and two new cuttings. Don't forget to seal the bottom portion after it stops oozing latex. You don't want fungus or rot to get in there at all.

The other branch if you decide to cut at the same time as you do on both sides.. I would cut close to where you have it marked, then I would take off the damaged area on the new cutting so that you are cutting right where the clean wood starts again ( at the new 40 degree angle). About 6 inches up. So you would be throwing away that damaged 6-7 inch stem. Do you see where it is dog legged right above the red line? That would be a beautiful new cutting. Again, seal, seal, seal.

Hopefully others will share .. This is my opinion since you asked.. ;-)

Take good care,

Laura

@ Laura, so your saying to cut off the sectio with the nubs, then divide into 2 cuttings? Would it not be beneficial to leave the nubs to grow into branches?

So on that 1st branch your actually saying to cut here instead? Maybe even lower.

Hi Jason !

I do see the nubs. It's a tough call .. You could always prune like you wanted to and see if the new energy will focus on those branches. I'm just thinking of having a fresh cut . You can always cut like you originally wanted to. Then wait and see.. If you are .happy with the joint as it is , then leave it. you could always cut lower at later time .

This is just my opinion.
I'm hoping some of the others will chime in and help you.

I think you wNt to keep it. So do what you think is best. You can always change it later .

Hope this helps.

Laura

Thanks for your input astrl, that's kinda what I was thinking.

@ Laura - as far as the other side I was thinking of doing this, with another cut just below the damage. With the growth I'm expecting this year, I should be able to take multiple cuttings from around the big Y, which I'll keep for myself...... ;)

Hi Jason.

Like astrl mentioned, its what you are looking for .. Will you like the look of the knobby end? Branches are trying to form there. Will you like that look? If you cut below the mentioned section , you will have new branches that will form. 1-3 usually . They might be healthier from a clean section and be thicker. Just a thought. If it were mine .... I'd cut below the damaged joint .

I agree about the other places you marked on the other section. Sounds like a great plan!!

I had some sun damage to the ends of my Pele years ago and the end looked like it was fused together. It did finally have nubs and branches, but it took longer than a regular cut from a clean woody area . Another thought !

Any others with thoughts for Jason?

Hope this helps , Jason !!!

Sending big vibes your way!!
Good luck with what ever you decide !!!

Take care

Laura

I didnt read all the way through the post (just have a few minutes today to visit) so forgive me if I duplicate a post.

I would prune one side this season and the other side next year. IMO start with the less developed side prune 6 -10 inches above your first "V" on the trunk (a bit further down than you might be wanting to do). Again IMO you will stand the best chance of getting multi tip growth around that point. Next year I would see how the tree responded to the first pruning and adjust my cut to somewhere further below the sunburn part. I think you have a good plan on making some nice cuttings in the process.

I have some with sunburn like that too. Not much can be done but just top dress it for appearance.

Hi K,

Thanks for your input.....

I also mentioned to Jason about selective pruning too!

We will see what he want to do?

Time for some coffee!!! Lol...

Thanks for taking the time for posting.. I wish others would give advise to Jason.

Take care,

Laura

Hi Laura,
Pruning is a scary thing (*because its "permanent") so I think lots of us like to read more and post less when it comes to that subject.

Jason, you have some nice size plants so they will recover well from pruning in one season. I wouldn't wait too much longer to do it. Like Laura, I recommend you do part this season and part next season versus all at once.

Hi Jason,

I just took this quick pic this morning.... It cut the top off of this tree because it looked like it had issues. I sealed and in two weeks I see three new branches forming. It does branch quickly..

Thanks K. I understand how others like to read, I just wanted to give Jason more opinions and I'm thankful you spoke up. Much appreciated as always!!

Have a good weekend and I hope your girls have a wonderful Mother's Day !

Good luck, Jason!

What ever you choose to do will be fine. Have fun!

Laura

Thanks kms2 & Laura!

You both seem to agree that cutting lower than I intended would give a better look. That's what I want.

2 things...... 1 - what do you guys think about starting the pruning nxt year instead of this year allowing for bigger cuttings?

2 - regarding the main cutting I plan to keep on the damaged side. If I cut lower than I planned, 6-10 in above main y of the tree, could i just root from there, allowing for a taller cutting? I just like the look of the main trunk much more than when a plant has it's first branching low to the ground. More of a tree look than a bush look!

@ Laura - google bulletproof coffee. :P. & thanks for the pic!

This is what I want my tree to look like....lol