Lime tree mature water sprouts

[Simon Parker]

Hi all, have 2 large lime trees a customer is needing to be controlled. Unfortunately have been pollarded 5+ years ago. Apart from thining smaller suckers to reduce sail. How can it be controlled apart from total cut back. Talking 15 meter high steams 4-5" dia growth, it's a family garden with multiple targets. Any advice would be helpful. P.s northen scotland so gets battered with high winds.

 

Thanks

Simon

[Squaredy]

If that was my house I think I’d want to replace those trees with something more appropriate.  Unless he likes the idea of having them professionally pollarded every few years of course.

[Dan Maynard]

I wouldn't thin smaller suckers, if anything I'd take out the thicker ones. Problem with this kind of tree since it's been topped is there is likely to be rot pockets at the big cuts, you don't want the long shoots breaking off.

 

I do tend to agree though, it's a lot of work to keep a lime tree small. Probably not the right tree for this location.

[Mick Dempsey]

Just repollard it. Why is that an issue?

 

ps, there’s a lot more than 5 years since the last haircut.

 

 

Edited September 13 by Mick Dempsey