Things Needed
The tall shape and elegant , loll branches of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) may make pruning more thought-provoking since you do n’t desire to destruct the born form and beauty of the tree . While dead branches warrant removal at any metre , trimming back acquire branch in increments let you to create the desired tree diagram shape without accidentally removing too much . Removing ramification tips promotes more side separate and removing or dress low branches permit for better pedestrian or vehicle access . Norway spruce tree turn in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 7 .
Step 1
Look over the entire tree , focusing on any dead or damaged branches that need full remotion .
Step 2
Cut off drained or yellow , diseased branch with a handwriting pruners , making a crisp one - motion cut 1/4 - inch above a lower branch join or in the midriff of the stem among unrecorded needle . If the branch is gravid than 1/2 - inch in diameter , reckon using a pruning hook to make the cut . Even large branches or those needing removal flush with the tree torso are easily remove with a bridge player - held pruning saw .
Step 3
front at the very top of the spruce tree . Only one grow steer or vertical sprig , called the leader , should live . Remove any competing drawing card from the tree tip , make the pruning cut 1/4 - column inch above their attachment to the main leader / trunk . Do not unintentionally prune off or damage the leader while you slim out the unwanted , competing loss leader twigs .
Step 4
Scout the overall shape of the Norway spruce after all dead and diseased outgrowth are gone . bet for residuum among the size , duration and distribution of the remaining ramification . Also not if any particularly long or errant branch or sprig posture a nuisance over a pavement or driveway . Earmark these subdivision for trimming .
Step 5
Trim back subdivision notice in Step 3 , using the appropriately size of it pruning tool . Make pruning cut 1/4 - column inch above low limb junctions if you are trimming back branch tips . If a branch must be more severely cut back , make the anywhere along the branch that currently possesses needles – barren leg will not pullulate back . deal cut back desolate branches to a lower leg conjugation or the tree trunk rather than leaving an awkward leggy branch .
Step 6
Reduce the distance of drop limb by snipping them at change lengths to preserve their elegant habit . invalidate shear the branches all at the same top ; hold back the natural , jaggy , pendent look of the Norway spruce ’s branch body structure .
Step 7
Hold back pruning if you are uncertain about desired duration . you may always shave afterward again in late winter . It ’s better to err on the side of under - cut back a Norway spruce than over - pruning and create unnatural looking clip wounds .
Tip
Consider prune back branch in midsummer once all the current growing season ’s growth has flushed out . you’re able to then see the new length of branches and trim or prune back accordingly to get the right length and face on the tree diagram . To defend a arm distance , trim off emerging unexampled growth buds in mid - outflow before it elongates and expands . Tall Norway spruce tree warrant the use of ravel , extension poles , or an arborist . Use an tree surgeon with safety equipment to tackle pruning task and concerns high in the tree .
Warning
newfangled prune spruce branches back into nude field where no phonograph needle grow . New tip buds will only rejuvenate from pruning cuts made on areas of branches that are cloaked in needles . Never " top " a Norway spruce . " Topping " is the rough , blunt removal of the upper loss leader or general upper tip of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Once removed , the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with sort a structurally weak , multi - branching transposition top that will not look upright .
References
Related
