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How to prune an ornamental tree

The best time to prune deciduous ornamental trees is while they are dormant, from November to March.

Pruning should aim to enhance the natural shape of the tree. It’s also an opportunity to cut away any dead, diseased or crossing branches to keep the tree healthy. Find out how to do it, below.

You Will Need

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Step 1

Remove any smaller branches arising from the trunk to create a clean, bare stem at least 90-120cm tall. If you are pruning a feathered tree, such as a rowan (Sorbus), which has naturally low-growing branches, only remove those that are very close to the base.

How to prune an ornamental tree

Step 2

Cut away any dead or diseased branches and remove any that block paths or are getting in the way. Cut them off sensitively, thinning them out, rather than chopping back the whole canopy. Cut away any overcrowded branches – the tree should have well-spaced main branches.

How to prune an ornamental tree
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