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HUGE conifer tree - can I prune it back?

#1 · 24th August 2023, 10:15 pm

Hello 🙂 I have a conifer problem, what was once a cute little shrub is now a whooping 10ft tree right outside my front door. I stare at it with loppers in my hand thinking I can do this… but I don’t know what I’m doing! I’d like it smaller and shaped, any advice please?

#2 · 25th August 2023, 11:51 am

Hi @mummys-me-time

That's a really good question and one that I get asked about all the time. See this post on conifer pruning here!

The quick answer is there's no way to hard prune them back to a contained shape. Once a Conifer, Pine or Fir tree has put on growth there's no way to 'regenerate it' with a hard prune.

Why don't confiders regenerate after pruning?

This is because Conifers have a bit of a tough time sprouting new growth from their older branches and trunks. Unlike some other plants that can bounce back from old wood, conifers tend to focus their energy on growing at the tips of their branches. This strategy helps them reach for the sky and soak up as much sunlight as possible.

The thing is, the buds on the older parts of a conifer tree might not be as ready to burst into new growth as the ones at the tips. These older buds might stay dormant or just not be as lively as they once were. That's why you often see new growth at the ends of the branches, where those energetic buds are doing their thing. This is known as apical dominance.

But it's not all bad news! If you're looking to do some pruning on your conifers, it's usually best to focus on the younger, more active parts. Trimming those older branches might not result in much regrowth, and you might end up with bare patches that don't look as lush. However, your 10ft Conifer will only be able to be trimmed by a few inches cutting back into new growth only.

If I were you I'd replace it with a more suitable tree. See if you can gift it to someone with a larger garden space.

So, while conifers might not be the champs at regenerating from old wood, they make up for it with their incredible greenery and that fresh growth at the tips.

Just remember, if you're aiming for a fuller tree or bush, it's all about giving those younger branches some love and care.

Happy gardening! 🌲🌿

Lee

mummys-me-time has reacted to this post.

#3 · 28th August 2023, 12:30 pm

Thank you 💚 i do quite like it, we put lights on it at Christmas time 🎄 I thought maybe I could shape it down a bit in a round or square smaller shape. At first I thought I could create lovely little clouds on it 😂 but I’m realising I am not gifted in that way. Do you think the roots would disturb the ground under the house? Thank you so much for the advice.