PlantFiles Pictures: Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria), 1 by HAMMERMAN

HAMMERMAN wrote:
~= HELP =~

I planted this about this time (Sept. 2003) last year. Although it leafed out and created "smoke" normally this spring, you can see by the photo all of the growth is on one side and and doesn't seem to be creating any ladder branches. I think this is referred to as "lions tail".

My intention was to let it start to find its own shape before attempting any pruning but I am concerned about winter snow-ice-wind damaging it.

Pruning advice would be apprecciated.
Thanks in advance.