Pittosporum prune advice

[Bloom]

Have to prune this pitto. Customer wants it significantly reduced which would leave it with no foliage. I've suggested a thin. I've removed these before and cut them in hedges, but never pruned a larger one. How do they hold up to a hard prune?

[nepia]

2 hours ago, Bloom said:

 How do they hold up to a hard prune?

Variably in my experience with normal sized specimens; that's a monster for the UK (assuming it is).

 

I've hard cut limbs - much smaller ones than in your tree -  and had them sprout beautifully and I've done the same to others and killed them.

 

To leave that 'with no foliage' is a pollard!

 

Seriously I would be suggesting staged reduction to monitor its reaction; it would be a crying shame to lose such a specimen.

 

I'd also be suggesting a bit of tlc to the root zone and stem; son't stack stuff on the roots or against the tree.

[Bloom]

Thanks for your advice. Tree is in Belfast. Not a fan of Pitto's but this one does look good. Really don't want to kill it, I'll aim to reduce slightly and thin. 

[Alex O]

Down here in the se they are very common as shrubs, Hedges’s and trees, iv pollard then before and even topped them in s hedgerow and they will come back each time no worries, but don’t know if it the part of the world we live in.

[Alex O]

Sorry SW, plymouth.