Forum home› Problem solving

Pruning amelanchier

LG_LG_ Posts: 4,118
in Problem solving

Sorry for all the questions at the moment! 

image

I have a tall thin amelanchier. It was crowded out by a yew right next to it, so it grew tall and one sided. We've had the yew cut right back, as you can see - hadn't realised how tall the amelanchier was! I'd like to prune it down so that it can grow more evenly and so we can see it better, but most things I have read just say that amelanchiers don't need pruning. 

Does anyone have any experience of cutting these back? How do they respond?  I'd rather keep it wonky than risk killing it. Any suggestions / advice? 

'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
- Cicero

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,409

    http://www.gardenseeker.com/pruning/pruning_amelanchier.html

    The website above suggests you are safe to prune,but you may to choose to wait till next year if you don't want to miss the flowers in spring. Or you could remove one third of stems each year for 3 years and will then have a 'new' bush!

  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,118

    Thanks - I'd read loads of web pages but not that one! I might make a start and sacrifice some flowers, I think. 

    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    If mine needs it I normally give it a light pruning at the back end of Sep/Oct when I am doing the hedges.
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • gardeninglily1gardeninglily1 Posts: 424

    And  don't be tempted to prune the side that has grown. You would be better to prune lightly the branches on the side where you want to encourage new growth. image

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053

    I'd let it flower next Spring ,then prune the whole thing. 

    I've done this in the past and it's responded wonderfully.

    Devon.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,118

    Right down? 

    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,118

    I'm back, it's finished flowering and it's time to prune. I'm very nervous about it, also a little confused. Anyone willing to do a bit of hand holding? 

    Here's a picture from today (sorry, can't seem to stop it being sideways):

    image

    You can see how tall it's got from the shed at the bottom! The blossom was lovely but I hardly noticed it as the tree's not that visibe from a distance and close by you have to remember to look straight up.

    Do you think it would be best to cut half of the stems to the ground, or cut them all to half their height, or what?

    It's also complicated by the fact that some of the branches have crossed and fused together!

    image

    Opinions and advice, please!

    Last edited: 18 May 2016 18:32:53

    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,118

    I meant virtual hand holding. I wasn't asking anyone to come round! 

    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    I would cut out the badly crossing branches and prune the whole lot down to about half the height. Now after flowering. That should give it a better shape.

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,118

    Thanks Hogweed (apologies, this had slipped out of my Followed Threads so I didn't realise anyone had replied). I made a start on Friday but lost my nerve - cut one branch almost to the ground and then two others at about 5 foot - then freaked out that if I  carried on I would put it into shock and kill it!

    It looks rubbish now though, so if you think I can prune every branch without killing the tree I'll carry on tomorrow...

    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
Sign In or Register to comment.