Does this tree need to be pruned?

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grrrlgeek Grayslake, IL(Zone 5a) Mar 20, 2009

This is the Linden tree in front of our townhouse. I vaguely remember something about only allowing 1 leading branch at the top of the tree. Do we need to prune any of the shorter branches growing straight up?

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JuneyBug Dover AFB, DE(Zone 7a) Mar 20, 2009

Yep! You might want to look at several articles on the web about pruning before you get the clippers out, but that tree does need the competing leaders "headed" or trimmed, back. Not a lot needs to be cut off of each branch, just enough so that the branch is encouraged to bush out, and leave the height to the leader.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Mar 21, 2009

It's difficult to say about the tree as the angle you have taken the picture looks down and cant see the bottom of the tree, it looks to me like you already have a good strong leader branch and this will continue to grow upwards where as the side branches will start to grow more outwards as the tree matures, the weight of the side branches will encourage them to fall more to the side when foliage gets heavier but normal leaders dont get this heavy growth on an upright tree, I would leave it alone for now unless you feel there is a problem, sometimes if you prune young trees too soon, they put out new growth in the wrong places and the tree matures into a different shape than it was meant to be. good luck. WeeNel.

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grrrlgeek Grayslake, IL(Zone 5a) Mar 22, 2009

Thank you both. WeeNel, what you see is pretty much all of the branches, taken a couple of days ago. This picture below is from August 2007 to give you an idea of it's size.

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JuneyBug Dover AFB, DE(Zone 7a) Mar 22, 2009

In your first pic, I see a badly angled crotch where the tree begins to form a competing leader. If you cut which ever one looks the weaker off at about where the crack in the cement shows, it shouldn't ever grow to be a problem. While you are walking around looking, look also for branches that are crossing (instead of growing outwards) and trim them away. If you see any more competing leaders in the coming years, just trimming them 8" in a "heading cut" will fix the problem before it starts.
Many books have been written about proper pruning technichs. It is best that you do some studying before you cut.

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grrrlgeek Grayslake, IL(Zone 5a) Mar 22, 2009

Thanks for the advice, I will study up.

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