Deodar Cedars Drooping Branches & Pruning Needs?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I have three 6-8 foot Deodar Cedars planted a couple years ago - Spring 2017. One on left side of house and two on right side.

All trees are showing good new growth on branches (especially the tops) but the pair planted on the right side has drooping branches when compared to the tree on the left side of the house.

The tree on the left side of the house shows no excessive drooping of branches and looks like I expect it to. Just a larger version of what it looked like when planted.

My questions are related to (1) Pruning tops and (2) What causes the excessively drooping branches?

First pic below is the healthy tree with the "runaway" growth on the top branches. Should I prune these so they don't fold over? Encourage more growth on lower structure.

Pic below is of the two "droopy" trees planted on the right side of the property. These trees are planted on an incline. To help with water drainage, when I planted these, I added a layer of gravel (appx 6 inches deep) to the bottom of the hole and then ran a 2 inch PVC pipe from the bottom of the hole down the hill to surface. When it rains, this allows the excess water to drain from the bottom of the root ball to prevent "wet feet".

When these were planted, they looked like the other tree, all branches were horizontal to upward slanting. Now, all the branches droop. Do drooping branches mean they are getting too much water? What can I do to get these branches to perk up again? Help!

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

7 years ago

I can't imagine deodar cedars ever requiring any pruning, except to remove anything damaged or diseased. They do tend to have somewhat droopy branching when young, which develops into widely sweeping branching as they age and mature. And unless you are growing dwarf culitvars, it's also hard to imagine a typical residential landscape that can accommodate 3 of these beauties, as they get huge!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Scott B
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for your feedback. I just uploaded pics if it helps.
Related Professionals
Bowling Green Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Elizabeth City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Paducah Landscape Contractors · Allentown Landscape Contractors · Las Cruces Landscape Contractors · Fredericksburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tucson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tuscaloosa Landscape Contractors · Vidalia Landscape Contractors · Lufkin Landscape Contractors · Bennington Landscape Contractors · Cedar Rapids Home Additions · Kankakee Home Additions · Allentown Home Additions · Bronx Home Additions
Scott B
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
In terms of growth space, Our property is about 1.5 acre but the single tree on the left has 10 foot of space to the house, then open all around. The two trees on the slope have same. I've seen many 20-30 foot specimens locally that are planted similarly. They are not dwarfs but they grow well here in Alabama.

With that said, my main concern at present is what appears to be excessive drooping and limp branches of the two trees on the slope vs the single one whose branches appear to be more stiff and less pliable than the ones on the pair of trees in the second pic.
Scott B
Original Author
7 years ago
My concern with the pruning of the single tree (first pic) is that it appears to be growing with two substantial "leader" branches. In my reading, it appears to grow best with a single leader branch:

Quote > "The tree should be grown with a single leader, if another one appears. Branches become broad with cracked bark"

See > https://chasingtrees.net/?tag=the-deodar-cedar-has-branches-that-are-nearly-horizontal-but-they-droop-as-the-tree-grows-with-upturned-ends
UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
7 years ago
one will probably take over, but if the problem persists in a couple years, yes, remove one
Scott B thanked UpperBayGardener (zone 7)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
They look perfectly natural and just fine to me. But I think your siting/spacing is way off. If these are not dwarf cultivars, they can easily grow to 40-50' tall (or more) and 30+ feet wide. And it is not a tree I would suggest pruning or trimming to keep to a smaller size. You will just destroy the form/habit.
Embothrium
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
At least double that size in the West. For instance (first dimension is height, second trunk circumference):

114' x 9' 11" Seattle, WA (1988)

101' x 17' 9" Sacramento, CA (1989)

(Jacobson, North American Landscape Trees, 1996, Ten Speed, Berkeley)

with trees experiencing sufficiently favorable circumstances in the native habitat having produced heights of 250' and/or trunks about 50' around. So if given enough time a planted specimen achieving half that level of development will still be 125' tall or 25' around.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
To achieve that size takes decades, if not centuries. And most residential landscapes support few trees that have that sort of age and size, especially nonnative species.