Gardening

japple

(10,292 posts) Wed Apr 29, 2020, 10:20 AM Apr 2020

Need advice on pruning. We planted this smoketree about 2 years ago, in Spring, and

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though everything I've read says it is a hardy tree, drought tolerant, there seems to be long sections of bare branch between the previous growth and this year's leaves. I don't know how whether to cut off this year's new growth after it blooms, or leave it as is. We have had two droughty years in succession (June-Nov each year) and I'm wondering if that's what caused the sparse growth.

Any suggestions?

Sorry for the size of the picture. I cropped and re-sized it on Imgur, but when I posted it here, the original appears. Guess I need help with that too!

3 replies

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Need advice on pruning. We planted this smoketree about 2 years ago, in Spring, and (Original Post) japple Apr 2020 OP

I thought I would look up "smoke Tree"..am not familiar with it asiliveandbreathe Apr 2020 #1

prune out everything that does not fan out from the center. mopinko Apr 2020 #2

Prune the bare branches back to just above a spot where there are little nodes that Vinca Apr 2020 #3

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)

1. I thought I would look up "smoke Tree"..am not familiar with it

Reply to japple (Original post)

Wed Apr 29, 2020, 10:59 AM

Apr 2020

Love your pic..for what it is worth see link..

https://www.gardenguides.com/91833-smoke-tree.html

mopinko

(71,652 posts)

2. prune out everything that does not fan out from the center.

Reply to japple (Original post)

Wed Apr 29, 2020, 08:32 PM

Apr 2020

it's important to get a good shape and an open crown at about this stage of growth.

Vinca

(50,932 posts)

3. Prune the bare branches back to just above a spot where there are little nodes that

Reply to japple (Original post)

Thu Apr 30, 2020, 04:34 PM

Apr 2020

a smaller branch will grow out of. I've got a bunch of forsythia bushes I started that will need that treatment as soon as they stop blooming.

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