Green Giant pruning (NJ)

8 years ago

I had 11x Green Giants planted in early Fall 2-years ago, these were purchased at 3-4' and now are anywhere between 8' - 12' (the smaller are on the edges of the fence line that get less sun due to neighbors trees.

These are all single leader, so the top portion was growing very leggy this past Spring as they shot up with all the rain. So, I knocked the central leaders back some to promote more fullness, as well as pruning them back into shape and getting rid of any vertical branches hitting the next horizontal branches.

My question is, did I just stunt the growth of these trees since the central leader is no longer shooting up ?

I see the next closest branch to the top has now arched vertical and is assuming the role as a new central leader - is this effectively the only way I am now going to get growth ? Is this OK, or do I not want this new leader since it basically looks like a branch for the first inch, and then curves upwards (thinking long-term in terms of structure and resiliency for the lifecycle the tree) ?

Featured Answer

Embothrium

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Is this supposed to become a sheared hedge? If not there should have been no topping.

Now you are going to have to wait for the trees to recover their previous orientation. And topping of developing, otherwise natural habit (as opposed to sheared) trees often produces forks that may split apart when the involved trunks get long and heavy enough.

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Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
conifers are trees ... ALL trees releader ...

if you want specific advice.. how about a pic or two ... plus giving us an idea of your goals ... etc ... pruning is all about what you are trying to accomplish ...

as transplants.. personally.. i would have not been cutting on them for a couple years ...

there are many conifers .. that have droopy leaders.. and you simply wonder how the heck they will ever grow taller.. but they do ...

you will have to keep an eye on them.. in tree time ... for the next 5 or 10 years.. you will have to pay attention ... and make sure they do not put up multiple leaders.. if so.. you will have to remove the duplicates .... in effect.. you bought single leader plants.. but your pruning now started the potential to have multiple leaders.. at height ...

i NEVER fertilize trees ,.. if you did .. perhaps that is why they are growing too fast.. and gangling ....

ken
Randy thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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Randy
Original Author
8 years ago
Randy
Original Author
8 years ago
OK, guys - uploaded 8x photos of the rear property line where the Green Giants have been planted as a privacy screen. The first 4x show them from afar, and the last 4x show close-ups of the central leader snip spots whereby we now have new areas conforming upwards as what appears to be the new leader.

I want these to grow taller, was primarily concerned with them growing leggy on top, so in effort to produce more thickness I read it would be good to prune back the central leader, as well as shape the exterior. I can tell this has really thickened them out, so it definitely worked. I have never used any fertilizer, and purchased these from a highly rated nursery who delivered them in burlap balls on the bottom.

If you zoom in you can see the leader snip points, and new leaders shooting upward.

I admit my first mistake was waiting until this season to trim the leggy top central leader, which is where I cut into darker wood. I assume that since this was darker wood, its not going to grow back and my only chance at vertical growth will be from the new leaders.

Are the new leaders going to be a long-term issue as they are really just branches curving upward to become the new leader (structural issues down the road) ?

In order to continue promoting thickness in the middle areas and keeping them in good symmetrical shape, would my next cuts on the central leader be only into light green growth (not darker wood that is established) ?

Appreciate the assistance !
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
A bit of a closing the barn door situation, but you didn't need to lop off the leaders in the first place. While they may have looked sparse when you did so, they would have filled in over time and would have provided the privacy offering fullness you wish in due course.

My suggestion for now is..........let them be!! When grown under normal and suitable circumstances, they will be dense and full all on their own. So no cutting any leaders and no need for any pruning on the sides (unless you intend to shear them as a solid hedge. They will grow thick and full and symmetrical without any messing about from you :-)

And as an FYI - although it is completely extraneous to this discussion - not ALL trees produce leaders and not ALL conifers are trees :-)
alley_cat_gw_7b
8 years ago
Hey Randy, Yes you stunted them....is the short answer, but it's only temporary.
I agree with gardengal 100%....leave them alone from here.
Think of it this way...Green Giants always look 'leggy' at the top...but the top raises. The privacy your looking for is on the way. Your gonna have some hosses there trust me. Let green giants be green giants...
plantkiller_il_5
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
al be right also ,,, GG always look leggy on top

they like water

ron