Is sycamore crown reduction ok to do this time of year?

[Chubbs]

Hello all

I need to reduce the crown of a mature sycamore on my boundary and do some general pruning. Is it ok to do it at this time of year or will it 'bleed profusely when spring comes and the sap rises? I've heard conflicting information.

Many thanks for your help with this.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Hello all

I need to reduce the crown of a mature sycamore on my boundary and do some general pruning. Is it ok to do it at this time of year or will it 'bleed profusely when spring comes and the sap rises? I've heard conflicting information.

Many thanks for your help with this.

 

Yep, generally better to avoid long periods of frost, if you can, and not to exceed more than 1/3rd of the foliage bearing material in a single hit...also to keep wound sizes as small as possible and, ideally, no more than 1/3rd of the parent branch / stem.

 

Otherwise "crack on"..

Paul

 

PS Unlikely to bleed in Spring anyway I would suggest but no evidence to say this is significant / detrimental to tree health.

[inthewoods]

PS Unlikely to bleed in Spring anyway I would suggest but no evidence to say this is significant / detrimental to tree health.

 

You can prune 2 sycs that are next to each other in spring & 1 will bleed profusely, the other will just seep a bit. Doesn't seem any rhyme or reason to why one would & another wouldn't (hopefully someone will enlighten us!?)

Have had 1 sycamore that died back a bit in the crown when crown lifted in spring but foliage did recover into full leaf the year after.