Young Poinciana Tree

garden

Could anyone help me out with a pruning/maintenance question regarding a young Poinciana?

I purchased the tree mainly because I want it to give some good shade in the years to come (that and of course they are a beautiful tree).

I just wondered if it would be the correct thing to do to start pruning the trees lower branches?
As I want the lower branches to be above head height (for obvious reasons).
(If anyone knows of any links to the best pruning methods that may also be helpful).

Also what time of year would be the best time to prune this particular tree?

I live on the Sunshine Coast, QLD.

I've attached some pictures of the tree in question.

Attached Thumbnails

       

Eric Frei

That soil in the box, I see issues down the track.

It would have been better to remove the soil/mound and the box and planted the tree at normal grade. That tree's trunk has the capacity to be the size of that box down the track.

You can prune the tree anytime up here.

I would remove that one lowest branch, that is all right now.

I would also get everything else out of the way, the weeds, the banana etc .... and mulch it 50mm thick but keep away from the trunk by a few inches.

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garden

Thanks Eric.

Yes I was planning on getting rid of the timber border and the banana plant, good advice. (Oh and the weeding).

Removing the lowest branch seem like the best idea to me also.

So if I cut it at the base with a saw or secateurs that should do the trick?

Example pic attached.

Attached Thumbnails