To late to trim or prune a tree??

[Benny]

Last year, lighting struck one of my trees.
I didn't get to it last fall or this spring to prune off the broken end of one trunk, nor did I trim back the branchs that are hanging over my drive now.

Can I still clean up the tree or should I wait till later in the summer?

Benny

[iceman]

Benny,
What kind of tree is it ?

[JohnWester]

you do not want to do it right now.  spring is the time of new growth and you will be trimming off the trees life-blood.(unless it's just deadlimbs)  you want to wait until the fall.

[Benny]

Iceman, closest any one has come to telling me what it is is a Russian thorn tree.

It has thorns on the branches and the wood is hard as steel.

Believe me the kids don't bother climbing that one and the 5 inch branch that got blew off took two chains on an electric saw to get through it.


Benny

[holdemtwice]

 Benny , can you post a pic of the tree when the leaves are on ???

[JohnWester]

i think you are talking about russain olive trees... they are actually supposed to be bushes.  in my opinion, give them the 1 cut prune.  but it you want to keep them, wait until the fall...  at least later in the summer.  but if you do it in the summer, be sure to seal your cuts to prevent insects from getting in.

[Benny]

It might be an olive tree, but it is full size at 25 or so feet high and a foot or better in diameter at the base.

It has oblong pedals for leaves and in the fall it drops two different types of leaves.
The oblong shape ones curl up and fall off then about a week or so later some needle type things fall off it.

I will snap a few pictures as soon as it gets going.

I will wait till fall to trim it, I like the shade it gives and it keeps the kids from climbing it.

Benny

[JohnWester]

I bet it is a Russian olive tree.  like I said, they are supposed to be trimmed and kept like bushes, but people let them grow like a tree.  are the leaves kind of waxie looking on the underside?  and they don't really produce olives... just these little round ball things if I remember correctly.  and yes, they have big thorns on the branches.  we had them in our yard growing up.  we still climbed them though

[Fawkinnae]

I wood (clever eh?) not be too concerned about trimming a Russian Olive this time of year. They are basically indestructable. In fact I think this is a pretty good time to trim with the exception of maybe oaks.

[labs4me]

One other thing... DO NOT seal the wound.  Most pruning sealers hinder the healing process and slow it down istead of doing what they are 'suppose' to do.   I agree, if it's a Russian Olive, prune away!  It won't hurt it at all.   26 years in the landscape industry and a Horticulture degree will back that up!

Good Luck!

Ken

[JohnWester]

One other thing... DO NOT seal the wound.

really, I thought you would want to put something on there to prevent insects from getting in.

[Benny]

As soon as the tree leaves out I will get more info and a picture.
I don't remember the texture of the leaves off hand, all I remember for sure is those thorns burn like hell if you don't get them out right away.

And like I said, the wood is like Iron, it took out two small camp saw blades on one 5 foot long 4 inch diameter branch that I cut into 1-1/2 foot sections to burn.

Thanks,Benny