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Post by binnylou on May 21, 2021 13:11:38 GMT -5
The tree planted in honor of our first grandchild is a Red Oak. Tree was planted in 2002-2003. The lower branches are growing low enough that they grab hubby’s cap when he tries to mow beneath the tree. I’ve been using the weed whacker to trim around it, but even that is difficult.
I’d like to remove the lowest branches to facilitate mowing/trimming. If I do this, am I going to create a tree that becomes top heavy and prone to wind damage. The tree is a slow grower. It’s always my aim to care for our trees in a way to encourage health and a long life for them.
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Post by gardendmpls on May 21, 2021 16:08:38 GMT -5
Not sure on this one, but it did remind me of something back in the 1980s-90s when Biosphere 2 was built. After a time, trees in the enclosed ecosystem began to break. Turns out that trees need the stress of wind to stimulate increased production of lignin, the part of their cell walls that give them strength. Without wind to strengthen them, they broke. Lesson can be applied to more facets of life than just trees.
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Post by binnylou on May 21, 2021 16:11:40 GMT -5
“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”?
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Post by pondgardener on May 21, 2021 16:25:26 GMT -5
binnylou, do you have a picture of the tree?
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Post by binnylou on May 21, 2021 16:27:50 GMT -5
Not a current one. I’ll see what I can do. Seems as if I have become somewhat photo challenged😞
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Post by Wheelgarden on May 21, 2021 17:45:10 GMT -5
binnylou, how tall is your tree? I've got a Red Oak planted in '92 that is about 20 ft tall (they sure are slow growers!), and it spreads those low-growing horizantal branches (as oaks do) and we have the same issue with mowing. I'm loathe to cut it cause it's so pretty.
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Post by binnylou on May 21, 2021 19:10:42 GMT -5
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Post by desertwoman on May 21, 2021 20:46:40 GMT -5
I don't know about a red oak- we don't grow them here, but I have cut the lowest layer of branches on our two ponderosa pines to give some 'walking room' and they've done fine. Ponderosas are faster growers however. They were planted about 15 years ago and are now 25-30 ft. I cut the branches at least 4 years ago.
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Post by Wheelgarden on May 21, 2021 20:54:05 GMT -5
binnylou I have two showy pin oaks planted at the same time as the red, and I've had to thin the low branches for mowing reasons as the trees get older. The pins grow faster than most oaks, those reds are slow. The pins are already showy, but patience, dear gardener, if you've ever seen a mature red oak, it's majestic. Got white and blacks, too. Love my oaks.
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Post by gb98 on Oct 31, 2021 8:19:02 GMT -5
I'm late to the party here, but let me input my two cents. First off, rule of thumb is to never prune more than 25% of a tree's canopy. Less than that and you are fine, but there is one caveat. Oaks should never be pruned during the growing season as pathogens like oak wilt or sudden oak death can enter their wounds. This would actually be a good time to prune as the trees are getting ready to go dormant.
If you can't trim those lower limbs without removing more than 25%, I would leave them alone. I would much rather have trees than a lawn anyway.
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