Indian Bean Tree

[markrtp]

Hi i have an 2mtr high Indian bean tree, that i don't want to let grow much higher, but would like to create a ornamental canopy, what is the best way to prune and at what time of year?

[Mick Dempsey]

The French use this tree a lot as a courtyard shade tree.

They respond well to heavy pruning/pollarding so cut any upward growth and leave the horizontal stuff to grow up to a metre or whatever.

Annually or every few years (up to you really how often) prune back to the same spot so it becomes a "knuckle"

Continue to remove upward growth along the branch.

[markrtp]

Thanks Mick Appreciate the advice, what time of year is best?

[Mick Dempsey]

Now is good.

[7610]

Pollarded one in February, quite a hard prune. The regrowth this year was massive.

[Ruskins Trees]

you could try root pruning to restrict size. That is how bonsai trees are created.

 

I know of a Swedish lady who in the 70's came to the UK with a Swedish Birch sapling in her handbag. After replanting it in ever larger containers, it ended up in a plastic dustbin. Thereafter every time it split the dustbin, it was repotted (after root pruning) into another plastic dustbin..... When I saw it, it was a perfectly formed 12ft high tree.

[Graham]

For a special effect allow it to produce just a few leaves. They'll be massive.