I have a plant that's never been cut back that is.

Jun 18, The rule for pruning deciduous flowering plants states that if it flowers after June 1, like the smoke bush, you need to prune in early spring. For a tree, you need to start young and remove all the extra stems, leaving only one strong central leader.

You can shape it at this point and keep the plant below a certain height. General pruning will include removing old wood, diseased or broken plant. Mar 26, We have had a smoke bush for over 20 years that grew into a smoke tree as can happen if pruned to make it that treeclearing.bar were suprised to see that you cut off all the branches of yours not leaving any to enable this tree of yours to treeclearing.bar least- that is what it looks like in your treeclearing.bar least two side shoots on each branch surely should have been treeclearing.bar would stop it from “die back”as Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins.

Cut all of the limbs and stems of the smoke tree down to about 2 1/2 inches above the ground in February or March. 2 Repeat this cutting once a year for a smoke tree with abundant colorful foliage.

Cut back upper growth to within two to three buds of the base every two to three years after blooming for fresh flowering branches -- smoke bush blooms on 2- to 3-year-old wood. Cut back annually. Smoke Tree – Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing.

Smoke Tree. In general, this plant is a”specimen” type plant that will need some pruning. Pruning is very important to the overall look of the plant because it grows in a rather erratic pattern. Only prune in early spring before the plant leafs out. Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be removed back to a main branch.

Look at the tree, with pruners in hand, cut off the side branches only with the pruners leaving about an inch and a half left of the branch. Don't prune the"trunks" unless you want it to grow up from the ground a fresh new smoke bush.

Hi Ben, it is great feeling to read your very helpful blog and also for the comments and suggestions that add the knowledge of our learning.

All the branches that you cut off will regrow and then some, and you will have gorgeous new leaves on your bushes. May 17, Pruning a Smoke Tree The plant will also droop as it gets larger, so pruning your growing smoke trees is very important. Wait until late fall or early spring to do so after the tree is done blooming. You don’t want to stop the tree from blooming as the smoke tree. If you want it for the"smoke" effect of the blooms you have to be careful. It only blooms on old wood and any type of pruning on these trees to shape them can create sort of.

May 22, How to Prune a Smoke Bush Into Tree Form Evaluate your smoke bush in late winter or early spring before new growth begins and select the strongest two to three trunks, evenly spaced across the plant. Cut out all other trunks and shoots at the ground with loppers. Prune away lower branches with loppers or hand pruners depending on their diameter.