What tree is this and how do I prune it?

[ms00skr]

I am in a rented house and would like to keep the garden tidy. This tree has grown significantly this spring and I would like to prune it but have no experience. Please could you tell me what tree it is and how to manage it?

Thanks in advance.

Edited by ms00skr on Friday 29th April 14:04

[GWC]

Give us a clue then.

[Paul Drawmer]

Is it a green one?

[Trevelyan]

It's definitely a wooden tree. Without a doubt. In which case you should prune it using some sort of saw.

HTH.

[Simpo Two]

Can you post a close-up of the leaves and flowers?

[ms00skr]

The flowers were bright yellow about a month ago and have now died off. Here is a close up.

[Shaw Tarse]

Prune it with fire!!!

[Simpo Two]

Reckon that's a shrub honeysuckle - I have two big ones outside.

Can't tell you how to prune it as mine just grow... but generally the time to prune is after the growing season, eg autumn.

[Mr GrimNasty]

It's a forsythia - you can't kill it, good time to prune now so it will flower next year.

[Shaolin]

Spring flowering trees are best pruned after flowering - so now is good.

[Simpo Two]

well I was close.... and only slightly totally wrong

[netherfield]

Quote: Avoid excessive pruning. Immediately after flowering cut back only those shoots which bear faded blooms. Every few years shorten some of the most mature branches. Dr Hessayon,the Tree and Shrub expert.

[Mr GrimNasty]

You could cut it to near the ground now and it will still flower next year, there are few plants that respond so vigorously to pruning, and it is that vigour that flowers the following spring. They are extremely robust, and hence very common. In fact as it rapidly gets very unwieldy and woody, severe pruning every 2 or 3 years is a good way to keep it in check.

Obviously where you prune it to depends on what shape you wish, e.g. a bush or small tree or a head on a stand. Taking out one in 3 old main stems/branches each year is always a good rule, but in this case it isn't necessary to be that kind.

For the example in the picture I'd just cut all the branches back to leave a third their length, remove any weak or diseased or badly crossing - it'll be bushier with more flowers next year.

(Me, real life actual experience.)

Edited by Mr GrimNasty on Friday 29th April 18:47

[x type]

http://www.chainsaw-shop.co.uk/petrol-chainsaws-47...

get one of those and as the tree exits the ground, cut it off there

problem solved for a few years

[Hereward]

x type said:

http://www.chainsaw-shop.co.uk/petrol-chainsaws-47...

get one of those and as the tree exits the ground, cut it off there

problem solved for a few years

Use this one to be absolutely sure:
http://uk.catalog.stihl.com/katalog/produkt/112420...

[x type]

good choice there better than mine

[Johnnytheboy]

I get better results with Forsythia by waiting until July to prune. They prune on old growth so you end up with a tidier plant that still flowers.

[Mr GrimNasty]

And if you want more plants just stick any half healthy woodyish bit in some damp soil or a vase of water and it'll root no problem. I've even left prunings in a plastic bag in the shed over winter and come back to find they were trying to root and grow away!

[Ricky_M]

Trevelyan said:

It's definitely a wooden tree. Without a doubt. In which case you should prune it using some sort of saw.

HTH.