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How should I prune my hurricane damaged tree

Missi

By Missi
in TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

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Missi Grand Master

Missi

Posted
Posted

The canopy of my rainbow eucalyptus was snapped off by hurricane Irma. It grew branches all up and down the remaining trunk. I pruned off all the lower branches but I'm stumped (pun not intended) as to what to do with the remaining top branches. There are horizontal branches and several vertical branches at the top. Should a prune all but one vertical branch? Leave the horizontal branches? Leave it all? 

First pic is for reference - how to looked shortly after the hurricane, the rest of the pics are how it looks currently. I hope there are enough perspectives so I can get some some solid advice on getting it some healthy, proper-looking growth/form.

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Naples (inland), FL - technically 10a but more like 9b in the winter :hmm:

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Jerry@TreeZoo Grand Master

Jerry@TreeZoo

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Don't do anything for a year after the storm.  Your tree is desperately trying to regain its canopy.

 

Afterwards, remove one third of the sprouts, reduce one third and let one third remain.  The year after that use that same rule of 3, selecting the strongest and best to be the new leader.  The third year prune for regular structure.

  • Upvote 2

So many species,

so little time.

Coconut Creek, Florida

Zone 10b (Zone 11 except for once evey 10 or 20 years)

Last Freeze: 2011,50 Miles North of Fairchilds

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Missi Grand Master

Missi

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3 hours ago, Jerry@TreeZoo said:

Afterwards, remove one third of the sprouts, reduce one third and let one third remain.  The year after that use that same rule of 3, selecting the strongest and best to be the new leader.  The third year prune for regular structure.

Thanks for your reply! Is this regardless of whether they're growing vertical or horizontal. Also, am I correct in that I'll have more than one central leader after 2 years?

  • Upvote 1

Naples (inland), FL - technically 10a but more like 9b in the winter :hmm:

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Jerry@TreeZoo Grand Master

Jerry@TreeZoo

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You prolly will have 2 or more leaders.  Make sure they are reduced or removed by year 3, earlier if the tree was able to regrow a complete canopy.

  • Upvote 1

So many species,

so little time.

Coconut Creek, Florida

Zone 10b (Zone 11 except for once evey 10 or 20 years)

Last Freeze: 2011,50 Miles North of Fairchilds

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Alan_Tampa Mentor

Alan_Tampa

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Jerry has a great deal more experience than me, timetable seems long to me with a fast growing species, but I defer to his assessment. Sounds like it may be prudent for more canopy to establish. I just worry about handling such large branches after a couple of years.

 

Just see how quick it recovers and show some pics around late summer. 

  • Upvote 1

Tampa, Florida

Zone - 10a

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