I have crepe myrtle only few ft high and few ft wide, with branches all the way to the ground. I want it to grow with a tall trunk like a tree, not a bush.If I cut off lower branches, there won’t really be anything much left. Do I cut off all except very top branches? If so, when? I live in Okla. Dianne
Hi Mike, A little constructive criticism. You should have mentioned checking the tree for diseased/dead branches/sections. Then a short synopsis on the proper time of the year to trim would have helped, as in never trim an oak in summer before the 1st. of august and why that is so important. Then the biggest omission, you forgot to mention the all important branch/bark collar and it’s significance in the trees’ ability to heal the pruning wound. I’ve been a fan for years Mike, and really enjoy your videos. I would only give this one a “C” because I know that a person of your caliber (caliper ?) can do much better. Stay warm, burn some firewood my man.
Topping a tree ruins the structure of a tree and should never be done. You will end up with a profuse growth of small branches at the tops of the braches that were cut. You will always be able to see where it was topped. The tree will have to be topped every year to avoid that. A topped tree is an ugly tree, and allowing it to grow after being topped is even uglier. Planting a tree too close to the house is a very common problem. If a tree is too close at mature size it should be taken down. Take it as a lesson learned and plant a new one further away. Research the mature size of the tree and pace off the full mature width from the house to the planting location. That will look far away at first but in a few years it will look just right.
Gene, I appreciate your input but in this case it just isn’t practical. I didn’t plant the tree, just trying to make the most of a situation allowed to get out of control. This tree will fill out nicely this growing season and provide a great deal more to the yard than it did before it was trimmed. Trimming it saved cutting it down and then dealing with the large stump. Sometimes you just have to deal with what you have.
Just would like to say that I really value your advice .. Since receiving your regular emails and videos I have learned a lot of good garden practices .. I’m retired now and live in France ( Ex UK ) .. so have more time to devote to the garden .. however, my garden is very much smaller compared to yours ! …. and I have to admit it is secondary to my main interest of clockmaking that consumes most of my time and spare cash. Really into it as much as you are with your backyard garden projects .. So this next bit may sound a little lame .. But really .. If I was not so engrossed with my lathework and clocks I could become very interested in your line of work and would participate fully and more intensly than I do at present…
Sincerely wish you more and more success with you project and thanks again for your valued advice.
Atul, this is how the story ended. It wasn’t my tree, it’s in my son’s yard. We talked about it and he wanted the tree cut back really hard. It either had to be cut back hard or come out completely. So we cut it back hard knowing it would come back nicely. But had I shown that on video I would have gotten blast about how wrong it is to prune a tree that much. We gave the tree a chance. If not, it would have had to come down.
Joetta Robeson says
March 26, 2019 at 8:41 amI need to know how to root grape vines. I know you had an article on that a few months ago and I
am having trouble finding it.
Also, when I click on the Business Center, I do not get access to buy plants, but just to the newsletter and comments. What am I doing wrong?
Mike says
March 26, 2019 at 9:10 amJoetta,
See this on grapes, https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/01/how-to-propagate-grapes-from-hardwood-cuttings/. If you joined the business center, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, then you’ll need to login to access the members area. If you did join, Duston can confirm your membership and help you get logged in. Contact him at [email protected]
Anonymous says
February 5, 2011 at 2:27 pmI have crepe myrtle only few ft high and few ft wide, with branches all the way to the ground. I want it to grow with a tall trunk like a tree, not a bush.If I cut off lower branches, there won’t really be anything much left. Do I cut off all except very top branches? If so, when? I live in Okla. Dianne
Bruce in Royalton Mn. says
January 13, 2011 at 9:41 amHi Mike, A little constructive criticism. You should have mentioned checking the tree for diseased/dead branches/sections. Then a short synopsis on the proper time of the year to trim would have helped, as in never trim an oak in summer before the 1st. of august and why that is so important. Then the biggest omission, you forgot to mention the all important branch/bark collar and it’s significance in the trees’ ability to heal the pruning wound. I’ve been a fan for years Mike, and really enjoy your videos. I would only give this one a “C” because I know that a person of your caliber (caliper ?) can do much better. Stay warm, burn some firewood my man.
tori w says
January 13, 2011 at 8:48 amhave a hard time watching the videos. No block on my computer, but am never able to watch
Gene says
January 12, 2011 at 8:27 amTopping a tree ruins the structure of a tree and should never be done. You will end up with a profuse growth of small branches at the tops of the braches that were cut. You will always be able to see where it was topped. The tree will have to be topped every year to avoid that. A topped tree is an ugly tree, and allowing it to grow after being topped is even uglier. Planting a tree too close to the house is a very common problem. If a tree is too close at mature size it should be taken down. Take it as a lesson learned and plant a new one further away. Research the mature size of the tree and pace off the full mature width from the house to the planting location. That will look far away at first but in a few years it will look just right.
Mike says
January 12, 2011 at 9:05 pmGene, I appreciate your input but in this case it just isn’t practical. I didn’t plant the tree, just trying to make the most of a situation allowed to get out of control. This tree will fill out nicely this growing season and provide a great deal more to the yard than it did before it was trimmed. Trimming it saved cutting it down and then dealing with the large stump. Sometimes you just have to deal with what you have.
Warren B Maclean says
January 12, 2011 at 5:31 amHi Mike .. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Just would like to say that I really value your advice .. Since receiving your regular emails and videos I have learned a lot of good garden practices .. I’m retired now and live in France ( Ex UK ) .. so have more time to devote to the garden .. however, my garden is very much smaller compared to yours ! …. and I have to admit it is secondary to my main interest of clockmaking that consumes most of my time and spare cash. Really into it as much as you are with your backyard garden projects .. So this next bit may sound a little lame .. But really .. If I was not so engrossed with my lathework and clocks I could become very interested in your line of work and would participate fully and more intensly than I do at present…
Sincerely wish you more and more success with you project and thanks again for your valued advice.
Kind Regards .. Warren
Mike says
January 12, 2011 at 9:08 pmWarren, thank you. My adivce to you is “follow your passion”. Life’s short, do what makes you the happiest.
Deborah Cox says
January 11, 2011 at 11:49 pmHey Mike
I really wanted to see if you have as hard a time as I do reaching those top branches. Haha.
thanks 🙂
Duston says
February 2, 2011 at 11:41 amDeborah… it was tough, we had two different ladders and still had to do some fancy footwork to finish the job! It will look good come spring though!
Atul Bhattacharjya says
January 11, 2011 at 11:30 pmNice but a closure view would have been better. I am interested in the shaping of trees by way of pruning small ornamental trees like Christmas tree.
Mike says
January 12, 2011 at 9:12 pmAtul, this is how the story ended. It wasn’t my tree, it’s in my son’s yard. We talked about it and he wanted the tree cut back really hard. It either had to be cut back hard or come out completely. So we cut it back hard knowing it would come back nicely. But had I shown that on video I would have gotten blast about how wrong it is to prune a tree that much. We gave the tree a chance. If not, it would have had to come down.
Will says
January 11, 2011 at 8:56 pmMike – you are truly a hero of mine! Been following for years. Need to go ahead and get system; might have the time in 2011!
Mike says
January 12, 2011 at 9:13 pmWill, as soon as you get my backyard growing system you’re going to wish you had done it a year or two ago. Most folks do. Join us today!
ornamental tree& shrub says
January 11, 2011 at 8:52 pmYou shouldnt top a tree!!!