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Trees Garden Clinic

Serviceberry pruning help

4 years ago

I planted this single stem autumn brilliance serviceberry a few years ago. Love the fall color, berries...overall great tree. But I later learned it’s not the best single stem cultivar as far as branching habit. Thinking it’s time to do some correction. I tried to number some problem spots...Any suggestions?

I have 2 leaders splitting off at #2...I think I have to live with that given the species . Thinking remove lower branch #1. At #3 we have some crossing branches. And then at #4 there’s kind of a long leader that is growing more out than up. I was thinking maybe removing the end @4.

Or maybe I need to give it some more time develop a few more branches? I dunno? I know it won’t be a perfect single leader specimen. Just want to maximize form as best I can now. Welcome any suggestions.

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Comments (5)

Embothrium
4 years ago
This how they grow, if it were mine I'd leave it alone.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years ago
So would I.
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Hello again. I got a picture of it. Like I said, it was cut back about a year or 2 ago. You can see the big stumps. Unfortunately, all the stems are growing out the front........no doubt because that's the side the sun is on. These branches are about 3' tall. Should I cut them back, since I don't want them turning into the lanky, leaning branches they were...one of which fell and tore off. I suppose when/if I do prune it, I should leave as many side branches facing backwards (towards the house/shaded side?? Would have help to keep it from leaning forward? I think I need to prune it very soon. Thanks for your help.
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callirhoe123
4 years ago
I agree. The somewhat "shrubby" form these trees take will provide increasing privacy from the street and the neighbors.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
if the goal is privacy from next door.. and down the street ... i would say its in perfect shape ... you wouldnt happen to have a pic from last year ... all leafed out??

if the goal is for it to look like it is actually a tree .. i suppose you could play around with it ... but i would have to ask why????

if there was an errant branch poking you in the head/eye while sitting on the chair ... i might shorten it or get rid of that ...

imo.. leave it alone ...

ken
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PJ
Original Author
4 years ago
It’s part foundation vertical accent part privacy. Have a thornless cockspur (older) hawthorn on right side of porch and this SB on the left/south end. So it felt like we needed another small tree on that side. We are in an old Denver hood with houses close together so that was certainly part of the goal. I’m also a collector and love the fall color and flowers of this variety and it seemed apt to replace the gnarly old rose bush that was there before I overhauled the foundation plants. .

I added a fall pic, the only one I have with leaves....but it was from this past year when we had a very hard freeze and snow the first week of October, so not it’s best show, and not much better picture to asses structure. I added a different angle too so you can see in relation to the bay window I tried to create privacy for (hence why I don’t cut my yews back more, and roll with the natural look there too) 😂. I also have a pacific sunset maple in the yard too which is what you’d see of front...you need lots of small trees and shade in Denver if you want to grow much besides desert scrub...thankfully I have good soil for Colorado so it greatly improves my possibilities.

I appreciate all the feedback. I think I will just leave alone unless I start seeing branches rub and let it go au naturel.. I’m a tad ocd so would love a more uniform tree look, but I can also appreciate the natural look. I realize this breed was never supposed to be anything but a multistem shrub (and wish I had just chosen that to begin with) but you live and learn your garden lessons!
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