Q. Any advice on Acacia trees would be great. These trees took a hit when the temps dropped
to the 20’s in December. I see new
growth, but mostly on the suckers.
Should I leave the suckers there or remove them? What is the best thing
to do to help these trees recover?
to the 20’s in December. I see new
growth, but mostly on the suckers.
Should I leave the suckers there or remove them? What is the best thing
to do to help these trees recover?
A. This is more complicated. First you will remove any
wood you know is dead. By now (June), any part of the tree which is still alive
should have thrown out some growth. Remove any limbs that are dead (no growth
coming from them) by cutting at point of attachment to another limb or the
trunk. You should not leave any stubs
when you are done.
wood you know is dead. By now (June), any part of the tree which is still alive
should have thrown out some growth. Remove any limbs that are dead (no growth
coming from them) by cutting at point of attachment to another limb or the
trunk. You should not leave any stubs
when you are done.
If the
limb is large and heavy, you should remove it by either removing sections of
the limb at a time that are manageable or use a technique that we sometimes
call the 1-2-3 method. This is demonstrated pretty good on Wikihow
http://www.wikihow.com/Cut-a-Limb-from-a-Tree
limb is large and heavy, you should remove it by either removing sections of
the limb at a time that are manageable or use a technique that we sometimes
call the 1-2-3 method. This is demonstrated pretty good on Wikihow
http://www.wikihow.com/Cut-a-Limb-from-a-Tree
Next,
remove any broken branches. They will not repair themselves. Remove any wild or
“sucker” growth. This type of growth usually has weak attachment to the trunk
and not support itself in years to come. Remove any growth coming from the
trunk that is not high enough in the future.
remove any broken branches. They will not repair themselves. Remove any wild or
“sucker” growth. This type of growth usually has weak attachment to the trunk
and not support itself in years to come. Remove any growth coming from the
trunk that is not high enough in the future.
This
growth will not get any higher and as it gets bigger will “sag” or bend
downward perhaps into places where you can bang your head. Remove these by
making a “flesh cut” in other words remove it all and don’t leave a stub.
growth will not get any higher and as it gets bigger will “sag” or bend
downward perhaps into places where you can bang your head. Remove these by
making a “flesh cut” in other words remove it all and don’t leave a stub.
Finally
thin out the remaining branches so that any dead wood is removed (again by
making “thinning cut” which is the same as in the third sentence, removing it
at a point of attachment without leaving a stub.) Try to have the remaining
branches going in different directions to help balance the crown visually.
thin out the remaining branches so that any dead wood is removed (again by
making “thinning cut” which is the same as in the third sentence, removing it
at a point of attachment without leaving a stub.) Try to have the remaining
branches going in different directions to help balance the crown visually.
I hope
this helps. By the way, I would do any major limb removal next early spring after
the worst temperatures have passed. Minor cuts (with a hand shears) can be done
any time.
this helps. By the way, I would do any major limb removal next early spring after
the worst temperatures have passed. Minor cuts (with a hand shears) can be done
any time.