Controlling an ex-Christmas Tree
 

In article ,
Eddy wrote:

Some years ago, maybe five or six, the previous owner of this house
planted outdoors a small pine tree which had served indoors as a
Christmas Tree.

But unfortunately this little pine tree was planted about 10 feet from
the side of the house. It is now well established and healthy but it
has now reached a height of about 8 feet.

Get rid of it. It won't regrow from old wood, any pruning will
merely make it look a mess, and it will start to be a serious problem
in other 5-10 years if left alone.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Controlling an ex-Christmas Tree
 

Some seasonal help, please.

Some years ago, maybe five or six, the previous owner of this house
planted outdoors a small pine tree which had served indoors as a
Christmas Tree.

But unfortunately this little pine tree was planted about 10 feet from
the side of the house. It is now well established and healthy but it
has now reached a height of about 8 feet.

I'ld like to leave it where it is, but can it be controlled? Can I turn
it into a kind of ornamental shrub which will be trimmed each year, like
other ornamental conifers?

If I trim off the top 2 feet (reducing it to 6 feet), and then prune all
the branches below that level to create a narrow cone of branches, will
its branches sprout and cause the tree to thicken with needles?

Or will such a pruning kill it? (Since pines have all their needles at
the end of each branch, the pruning back will certainly remove all the
current greenery/needles.)

If pruning is OK, when would be the best time to do this? Now, or
early/mid/late spring? Or later?

Many thanks.

Eddy.

Controlling an ex-Christmas Tree
 

In article ,
Pete wrote:

Get rid of it. It won't regrow from old wood, any pruning will
merely make it look a mess, and it will start to be a serious problem
in other 5-10 years if left alone.

I agree about the inadvisability about the treatment in situ and the future
structural risk factor with it being so close to your house.

Moving it is a possible option, providing you have a suitable alternative
site for it.

You will have to definitely "want a lot " to keep it as moving it is a tough
task with no guarantee of success.

That's an understatement! What sort of rootball would it need?
I would guess at least 2'6", which is the best part of a ton.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Controlling an ex-Christmas Tree
 

wrote in message ...

Get rid of it. It won't regrow from old wood, any pruning will
merely make it look a mess, and it will start to be a serious problem
in other 5-10 years if left alone.


I agree about the inadvisability about the treatment in situ and the future
structural risk factor with it being so close
to your house.

Moving it is a possible option, providing you have a suitable alternative
site for it.

You will have to definitely "want a lot " to keep it as moving it is a tough
task
with no guarantee of success.

Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

Controlling an ex-Christmas Tree
 

"Eddy" wrote in message
...

Some seasonal help, please.

Some years ago, maybe five or six, the previous owner of this house
planted outdoors a small pine tree which had served indoors as a
Christmas Tree.

But unfortunately this little pine tree was planted about 10 feet from
the side of the house. It is now well established and healthy but it
has now reached a height of about 8 feet.

I'ld like to leave it where it is, but can it be controlled? Can I turn
it into a kind of ornamental shrub which will be trimmed each year, like
other ornamental conifers?

If I trim off the top 2 feet (reducing it to 6 feet), and then prune all
the branches below that level to create a narrow cone of branches, will
its branches sprout and cause the tree to thicken with needles?

Or will such a pruning kill it? (Since pines have all their needles at
the end of each branch, the pruning back will certainly remove all the
current greenery/needles.)

If pruning is OK, when would be the best time to do this? Now, or
early/mid/late spring? Or later?

Many thanks.

Eddy.


Bite the bullet and dig it up. Clear out the plate root it will have formed
then start agian with a nice new tree.

I let one grow in a similar position to yours and finally it got out of
control and I just had to fell it.

Bill

Controlling an ex-Christmas Tree
 

On Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:19:59 GMT, Eddy
wrote:


Some seasonal help, please.

Some years ago, maybe five or six, the previous owner of this house
planted outdoors a small pine tree which had served indoors as a
Christmas Tree.

But unfortunately this little pine tree was planted about 10 feet from
the side of the house. It is now well established and healthy but it
has now reached a height of about 8 feet.

I'ld like to leave it where it is, but can it be controlled? Can I turn
it into a kind of ornamental shrub which will be trimmed each year, like
other ornamental conifers?

If I trim off the top 2 feet (reducing it to 6 feet), and then prune all
the branches below that level to create a narrow cone of branches, will
its branches sprout and cause the tree to thicken with needles?

Or will such a pruning kill it? (Since pines have all their needles at
the end of each branch, the pruning back will certainly remove all the
current greenery/needles.)

If pruning is OK, when would be the best time to do this? Now, or
early/mid/late spring? Or later?

Many thanks.

Eddy.

Unless you are heavily into bonsai, get rid of it. The Japanese train
pines into fantastic shapes, but you would have had to start training
it before now. Let it go.






Pam in Bristol

Controlling an ex-Christmas Tree
 

On Dec 31 2010, 4:19*pm, Eddy
wrote:
Some seasonal help, please.

Some years ago, maybe five or six, the previous owner of this house
planted outdoors a small pine tree which had served indoors as a
Christmas Tree.

But unfortunately this little pine tree was planted about 10 feet from
the side of the house. *It is now well established and healthy but it
has now reached a height of about 8 feet.

I'ld like to leave it where it is, but can it be controlled? *Can I turn
it into a kind of ornamental shrub which will be trimmed each year, like
other ornamental conifers?

If I trim off the top 2 feet (reducing it to 6 feet), and then prune all
the branches below that level to create a narrow cone of branches, will
its branches sprout and cause the tree to thicken with needles?

Or will such a pruning kill it? *(Since pines have all their needles at
the end of each branch, the pruning back will certainly remove all the
current greenery/needles.)

If pruning is OK, when would be the best time to do this? *Now, or
early/mid/late spring? *Or later?

Many thanks.

Eddy.

You can trim all the branches back, but not really lop the top off.
However being sensible is to get rid of it now before it becomes a
serious problem which it will. Not a suitable tree for near a house or
the small garden.
They are selected for speed of growth and nothing else.

Thanks
 

Thanks, everyone . . . for this sad but necessary news!

It seems my hopes of the thing sprouting with new needles in around its
trunk from top to bottom was a pipe dream and I will only be left with a
chopped and leafless skeleton.

The next best option would be to move it, but what you say about the
likely size of the root-ball rules out any thought of moving it, for it
was planted right beside the decking that surrounds the house! About a
third of its roots will have tunnelled their way under the decking,
making their way towards the foundations of the house.

I hate destroying any plant or tree . . . but sometimes there's no
option.

The only good thing is that cutting it at the base won't be too
difficult if I do it now.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the help! I've been meaning to post this
question for months now. Finally got round to it on New Years Eve!

Happy New Year.

Eddy.

Thanks
 

"Eddy" wrote in message
...


The only good thing is that cutting it at the base won't be too
difficult if I do it now.


Happy New Year.

Eddy.




Don't cut it at the base, cut it about 4 feet up. Dig round the root ball
cutting as many roots as possible and use the 4 foot length of trunk as a
lever :-)) If there is room, you can lever from the left, 'pass it over',
lever from the right etc and the lever does most of the work :-)

Mike


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