Topping 120' White Pines
Sebago Lizzy
3 months ago
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Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
3 months agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 months agoRelated Discussions
Large white pine: effectiveness of reducing crown?
Comments (12)The photos show the typical multiple leaders that have resulted from attacks by the pine tip moth or pine weevil. This is the charactristic growth pattern of white pines throughout New England. They are not past their prime in the sense that they are nearing the end of their natural life span. Selective cutting back of the tops so that the trees are reduced to a single leader can be done, but it would be an ongoing process. Especially if the pines are growing in sandy soil, there is some danger that the dense growth at the top will provide so much wind resistance that the trees can be levered out of the ground. Very strong winds have the potential to break off the tree along the trunk for the same reason. Like most white pines, especially those that are planted too close together, these are already filled with dead wood because lower branches are shaded out as the tree grows. This also creates a hazard - they're not called "widow makers" for no reason - if the trees are close to the house. Topping is rarely a good practice, but in this case you've been given good advice by the tree service. The pines will not look radically different after some of the tops are cut out and will be less prone to storm breakage. Removing some of the trees and having the dead wood pruned out on those left might be an alternative to removing all of them....See MoreWhite Pine Tree Needs Help - Storm Damage
Comments (9)Thanks everybody. The tree is about 30' from the house. If it ever falls eastward, it will in fact hit the house. We also have a lot of oaks and maples in the back which are very tall as well. Good point about the root system. I didn't think about that. Guess I'll just have to pray it makes it. Overall, it is a healthy tree. It just got whacked really badly this time. You should have seen me out in the blizzard with a long pole knocking the snow from the branches I could reach. Took a few "butt plants" and was "dumped on" a few times :), but it was worth it. None of the lower branches broke. As I said, I LOVE that tree. I'll call the County for an arborist recommendation prior to having it pruned. Thanks again for your help. Melanie...See MoreTopping Spruce and Pine trees?
Comments (18)Fast, those photos show us that this can actually be done. When I lived in Upper Michigan, I saw spruce hedges for the first time in my life. Most unusual, yet not out of the question. We get into confusion because there are simply different ways to handle plants, and different goals that go along with these differing methods. I would not personally do this, but those photos prove, to me at least, that is is a reasonable thing to do. For me and a lot of other folks, the sheared hedge thing is just not what we're tending to reach for in our yards and gardens, but where it is desired, these somewhat surprising choices can work. Very generally speaking plants with very fine-textured foliage tend to work best for sheared hedges, things like Jap. yews, hemlock, some hollies (I think-not really a holly guy), arborvitaes sometimes, etc....See MoreWeeping white pine trained with a "serpentine" central leader
Comments (19)Yes pretty much everything requires summer irrigation - I mostly use drip. Many pines do well here, also Cedrus are naturals, many Cupressus, Juniperus, etc, too. And I do more envelope-pushing with Agathis and Podocarpus! I love the soft/spiky thing, too, but it does upset some people. However, if you walk in a pine forest in Mexico, there are Agaves and Yuccas all over, so it's found in nature, too....See MoreSebago Lizzy
3 months agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 months agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agoKR KNuttle
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agoSebago Lizzy
3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agobengz6westmd
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agoBillMN-z-2-3-4
3 months agomxk3 z5b_MI
3 months ago
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Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis