@@alicemoore1367 just as it was popular to “top” trees in the 1960’s & 70’s, it is now popular to “lion tail” which is essentially the removal of the inner crown. As the word gets out more and more tree owners learn of the benefits of nurturing the inner crown.
Great insights on pruning the mosquito tree! I found your explanation about managing the lower limbs to maintain the upper crown very helpful. It's fascinating how those reduction cuts can significantly improve the tree's overall health and stability. Have you noticed any changes in its growth patterns since the last pruning? Would love to hear more about your techniques!
Yes, I noticed changes in all the growth patterns of the trees we prune. Basically, when the inner crown is removed as it is so often, it causes lower limbs to grow long, which then see the light of day at the end of the crown and start to grow thick, causing codominance. Codominance then causes included bark which eventually causes breakage. We find those limbs that start low and go to high places and subordinate them with reduction cuts. Those same limbs usually tend to be a one-to-one aspect ratio with their leader, or trunk. Keep lower limbs lower and allow the main trunk to dominate.
Question - What is the best way to keep the young PV tree smaller. I just removed the drip system. Also, great videos! My PV is growing very fast and it's cool to watch reduced branches grow stronger and form a good smaller lower crown.
@@mattjones5175 to keep your Palo Verde smaller first start out with not watering too much. After it is established water no more than once a month in the summer and maybe one time in the winter depending on rainfall of course. If you prune your Palo Verde with reduction cuts, and you avoid thinning cuts, it is going to tend to “hold the prune“ a lot longer. In other words, it will stay away from the things that you do not want it near for a greater amount of time between prunings. If your concern is with the height of the tree, you may also make reduction cuts on the upper limbs in the same fashion that you reduce the lower horizontal limbs. Just be sure that you have not taken out the inner crown or you will not have anything to reduce down to. You can only reduce to a branch that the tree has offered so do yourself and the tree of favor and refrain from cutting off those offers. If you do end up making reduction cuts for height reduction, it is best to do so after the summer since Palo Verdes are extremely prone to sun damage.
@@ArboristAdvice It all makes sense to me now! Thank you so much. This tree is the showpiece on the corner of our desert-landscaped property in a rather large area section. Lot's of great comments from people re this tree...mostly because of your tips on pruning. Thank you so much for taking the time!
@@mattjones5175 Glad to hear our videos are helping care for your Palo Verde. I've always thought of this information as not being common sense but once you hear it, it makes complete sense.
@@nimajnebrm Pruning with reduction cuts, or structural pruning applies to every tree. The differences you find will be in the growth patterns of each species.
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I love your videos, so many RUclips videos on how to "liontail" trees are available, you show to properly prune desert trees!
@@alicemoore1367 just as it was popular to “top” trees in the 1960’s & 70’s, it is now popular to “lion tail” which is essentially the removal of the inner crown. As the word gets out more and more tree owners learn of the benefits of nurturing the inner crown.
Great insights on pruning the mosquito tree! I found your explanation about managing the lower limbs to maintain the upper crown very helpful. It's fascinating how those reduction cuts can significantly improve the tree's overall health and stability. Have you noticed any changes in its growth patterns since the last pruning? Would love to hear more about your techniques!
Yes, I noticed changes in all the growth patterns of the trees we prune. Basically, when the inner crown is removed as it is so often, it causes lower limbs to grow long, which then see the light of day at the end of the crown and start to grow thick, causing codominance. Codominance then causes included bark which eventually causes breakage. We find those limbs that start low and go to high places and subordinate them with reduction cuts. Those same limbs usually tend to be a one-to-one aspect ratio with their leader, or trunk. Keep lower limbs lower and allow the main trunk to dominate.
Question - What is the best way to keep the young PV tree smaller. I just removed the drip system. Also, great videos! My PV is growing very fast and it's cool to watch reduced branches grow stronger and form a good smaller lower crown.
@@mattjones5175 to keep your Palo Verde smaller first start out with not watering too much. After it is established water no more than once a month in the summer and maybe one time in the winter depending on rainfall of course. If you prune your Palo Verde with reduction cuts, and you avoid thinning cuts, it is going to tend to “hold the prune“ a lot longer. In other words, it will stay away from the things that you do not want it near for a greater amount of time between prunings. If your concern is with the height of the tree, you may also make reduction cuts on the upper limbs in the same fashion that you reduce the lower horizontal limbs. Just be sure that you have not taken out the inner crown or you will not have anything to reduce down to. You can only reduce to a branch that the tree has offered so do yourself and the tree of favor and refrain from cutting off those offers. If you do end up making reduction cuts for height reduction, it is best to do so after the summer since Palo Verdes are extremely prone to sun damage.
@@ArboristAdvice It all makes sense to me now! Thank you so much. This tree is the showpiece on the corner of our desert-landscaped property in a rather large area section. Lot's of great comments from people re this tree...mostly because of your tips on pruning. Thank you so much for taking the time!
@@mattjones5175 Glad to hear our videos are helping care for your Palo Verde. I've always thought of this information as not being common sense but once you hear it, it makes complete sense.
I always wonder how much of this advice also applies to other trees like Tipuana or Chinese elm?
@@nimajnebrm Pruning with reduction cuts, or structural pruning applies to every tree. The differences you find will be in the growth patterns of each species.
Why wouldn't you remove the lower limbs?
I think the question is, why would I remove the lower limbs?