When Should I Prune My Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)?

9 years ago

I planted a small, two-feet high tulip tree in 2012, and living beside the run, it has been thriving, and has now reached the height of seven feet. I would like to prune the bottom branches off of the tree, but have the following questions:

Have I waited too long this early spring to prune?

2. How many of the lower branches should I cut off?

I know that the attached photo isn't the best at showing the lowest branches, but am hoping that
someone will still be able to provide me with guidance on this issue.Thanks loads!

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Comments (9)

tlbean2004
9 years ago
I dont have an answer for you, but that tree will get pretty large.

Why do you want to cut the lower branches off when it is still so small and young?
ampersand12
9 years ago
I wouldn't waste the time. Tulip trees naturally drop the lower branches as they grow.
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Err, Burgess DID list the scientific name. I have a big mea culpa here. Blame it on my inexperience. Hairmetal, it is indeed that tree, a 'pink magnolia.' I would NEVER have considered it to have been a magnolia. If you've ever been down here we have 'real' magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) EVERYWHERE. It's Mississippi's state tree and is on their vehicle license plates, but it's just as common here (actually have no idea how common it is in Miss, presumably the same, at least the southern half of the state). So when this self-identified amateur thinks of magnolia, that and only that comes to mind. Everyone I know calls the pink magnolia a tulip tree. Granted, I am the one and only person interested in trees and gardening in my circle of acquaintances. I have even seen the proper tulip tree, and have never had cause to call it anything at all. It is DEFINITELY a tree I have no interest in planting. I have heard, though, that some butterflie's caterpillars use it as a host (food) plant. Do y'all know which butterflies, offhand? Thanks again! Jeremy
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Hehe, gotta say, nearly freaked when I saw the words Bottlebrush in the name whaas. I had major flashbacks of those ridiculous plants out in california when I was a child...You see them all up and down the roads and highways. Huge red bottle brush shaped blooms on those miserable things. Ugh! I am sooo allergic to those! Alright then, done with the nightmare flashbacks. Now, I've just informed hubby those 3 trees in our back yard -must- go and sooner rather than later. He will contact a pal of his who used to log for a living. Not my thing so not my problem. His/their problem if something gets knocked into a building. LoL I leave that to him. ;) I on the other hand, asked him for his preference and have been given none. So it's up to me. Yay! I guess? Not really, if he complains later? Oh well! He lost that chance, when I asked and he said... "I don't care." I like the Swamp white oak, but I love the tulip tree. Now knowing that the tulip tree may cause issues later and the oak will live longer. I'll go with an oak. Yeah, I want more butterflies, but I'll plant an Aesculus parviflora or two, that will satisfy the butterfly wants too. :) So I have to say thank you to everyone and thank you Esh_ga & Whaas very much for directing me to several to help me make a more informed choice.
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Bill
9 years ago
Not too late for pruning. I just finished up a number of my own trees this morning here in z5 Chicago. Wouldn't wait too much longer though.

I would take off the lowest branches, maybe anything below 3-4 feet. Send that growth energy higher up the tree rather than into those low limbs that are going to come off at some point anyway.

As always, when pruning.........less is more........so to speak.........

Hard to re-attach branches once you prune them off............don't over do it.

Just my .02¢
tlbean2004
9 years ago
I think if you cut them off while it is young it will just grow more branches to even itself out.

Those trees can get up to 100ft so i think any pruning now, wont make a different in the long run. Also the branches above the 3 ft mark are probably not the "final" branches that it will grow. Even if you dont prune it, it will probably still grow more branches just because it is so young.

Im not an expert or anything, that is just my opinion.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
beany's out of league on this one ...

dont remove more than 1/3 of the canopy ...

in the pic.. at least everything below the top of the black stuff or water.. whatever that is ... and maybe one or two more ...

then let it go .. and maybe take another one or two in fall ..

i am not one much to having a best time of year for pruning... except maybe red oak .... its usually done when it pisses me off.. or when i walk by with the saw ....

i might look the rest of the way up 8 feet or so.. and snip out a few of the tiny branches .. kinda thinning up to my goal... without waiting until i get that high ...

bet this thing puts on 3 feet of growth this year... cant think you can go wrong... short of pruning it up 11 feet ... lol

just look at the structure as a whole... take the bottom ones.. and think about your pruning for the next 3 years.. and see if any whim hits you ..

ken
alabamatreehugger 8b SW Alabama
9 years ago
I usually try to prune right before bud break (now), that way the tree has the whole growing season to close the wounds.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
9 years ago
I agree with Ken. i am unaware of any seasonal diseases which affect this tree. chuffle, are you familiar with how to make proper pruning cuts and cleaning your tool between uses so you don't possibly spread disease from one tree to the next? FWIW, that's one of my favorite trees.
Embothrium
9 years ago
Cutting part of a top off does not make the remaining part grow more.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
I don't see any reason to cut anything off this year unless you want to clean up the lower trunk a bit. To me the top looks fine as it is.

When Should I Prune My Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)?

Comments (9)

tlbean2004

ampersand12

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Bill

tlbean2004

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Embothrium

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

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