Prunus serrula pruning

[ash.wilde]

Hi all,

 

I have got a job coming up soon which is for a lady who wants her Mahogany Bark Cherry, Prunus serrula, crown reducing. I have offered to do a full crown reduction but she wants something "more drastic than that". Will this sort of tree take to a real good hacking, that sounds terrible, she wants me to try and start some pollard heads much like the London Planes in London.

 

I want to do the job the way she wants to keep her happy but at the same time do not want this tree to die after I have cut it. The tree does have plenty of epicormic growth within the crown so I am sure it would survive and put on plenty of leaf next year, however your views and past experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks, Ash.

[janey]

Why would anyone want to do that to a Tibetan Cherry ?

 

From my experience, they don't really like being pruned heavily, even when they are young and vigourous. It might make a few feeble attempts at some regrowth, but it probably won't come to much and will eventually die. If your customer still wants her tree to be cut back so drastically and you can't persuade her otherwise, it might be better to suggest removal and replanting (depending on Planning constraints etc).

 

It would be a shame to lose it though, as it is a lovely species.

[armchairarborist]

they aren't really the sort of tree that would pollard successfully, usually a messy crown that would be a mare to reduce anyway, nice bark interest but thats all, try to suggest a replacement maybe like for like so she can enjoy watching one grow up again, or something you can pollard and maintain as a nice pollard if thats the look she is after.. as janey says check tpo/ca etc first, have fun convincing her, Ed.

[ash.wilde]

Cheers for the advice, thanks for the pics Ed, the tree to be cut is no where near as congested as that and forms a nice standard, it has been reduced before but she just wants it all off this time. I will see what she wants, I will try the replacement option though.

 

Thank you both, Ash

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

christ, what a shame, one of the finest ornamentals and its not appreciated.

[ash.wilde]

Your right there! But you cant tell the customer what they want and most of the time they dont care what the tree wants!