Pruning Cupressus Sempervirens Glauca

Shell Bell

I have 7 x 2.5 year old Pencil Pines which are now approximately 6 metres in height. Tag on the plant says they will reach 5 metres after 10 years, but upon searching on the net, I see this variety can grow to 20-25 metres - EEKS! I live in suburbia and already am having troubles with these trees. They are on the fence line, with golden canes on the opposite side. I suspect they are competing for soil and as they have grown so tall in such a short time, do not have the root or trunk strength to stand straight whenever it rains or the wind blows. We live on the bay so this is a common occurrence here. I have tied and staked them as much as possible and have come to to conclusion that they have to be cut back to allow them to strengthen. Can this be done without killing the trees, and will they end up looking like a stick of fairy floss - all head and no bottom? I would probably take them back by as much as one half. I would be really grateful for any information or suggestions as I can't seem to find anything on the net.

Eric Frei

Redlands Brisbane I assume.

Nice red soil right?

Yeah, I always wonder about those labels and nurseries.

On a leopard tree tag in a renowned nursery they wrote height 10m spread 10m ... I've cut off branches that big I reckon. Maybe they're labelled in Tasmania?

Staking them will only make the trunks lazier and allow the darned things to grow taller.

Sometimes people cut them like 2m tall and forever hedge trim the tops, but die back is also a risk on them.

They do look very odd when cut short and it will need ongoing trimming. They could die back too.

Personally, bad call for a windy spot. They can be temperamental too in maturity and get dead sections, both fungal and drought type of stuff, many dropped dead before the last years rains.

Think long term frankly, to make a clipped hedge out of them is hopeless, they're too skinny. Cut them in half and never prune them again then you'll have other problems, multiple tops.

Sure, there's some big ones around that have stood up to the wind and rain, but there's quite a few gone through the chipper too.

Wait and see if anyone else has ideas for you, you cant really thin them like other trees either.

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newguy18

Sounds like candidates for removal,wrong trees wrong place imo,hard to say without pics.

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old schooler

Shell Bell

Thanks for your prompt reply,Ekka. Yes Victoria Point. Beautiful spot. Don't know if the red soil has made these things grow so fast but I think the only real answer is removal. The local nursery suggested getting an arborist in as they would be worth some money for resale. Do you do that sort of thing? And is there a market for them? 4 are good, strong and straight but the middle two are chipper material I think. I hate the thought of starting again but I really believe that will be the answer!

Hope you are enjoying the warm sunny days and beautiful evening storms we are getting. God's country here in Brissie!!!

Eric Frei

You might think this crazy but give it a go, take pictures and sell on Ebay.

People will come and dig them out themselves, that way if they die it's not your problem.

Price them at 50% of what same sized nursery stock would be.

Tell them they should take minimum around 6x radius whatever the trunk dia is. For example, if the trunk dia is 100mm then they need to take a circle 600mm radius or 1.2m across. Get a sharp spade and go round cutting all the roots, then try to come in at a 30degree angle beneath the main trunk, carefull if levering not to break or tear roots, cut them, have some secatures handy. Slowly slowly catch a monkey you'll get there.

Rather than lift it out, slide a cheap tarp underneath and drag it out of the hole. Do not lift by the stem.

In the mean time you need to prep them by adding some organic fert/seasol inside the cut zone.

Dont forget, you'll be left with holes to fill.

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Shell Bell

Thanks again. I guess it is worth a try. One plant will pay for the replacement of them all!

I'll let you know what happens.

treeseer

make sure the roots are not circling. waste of time doing anything until you know that the roots are right.

Shell Bell

Thanks guys for all the feedback. I had made up my mind to dispose of the Conifers and replace them with a smaller and thicker version, when I noticed our resident Blue Wrens flying in and out of them. They have nested in two of the trees, about 4 metres up, so I guess they are staying for the time being at least.
Funny how things happen. I will probably remove the two problem specimens before they start causing troubles with the neighbours.

I have attached a photo taken 18 months ago. You can see the problem already starting on the two in front of my son's car. They have almost doubled their size now and only stay upright because I have them tied to the fence and stakes.

Hope you all have a wonderful New Year. Stay happy and safe and I look forward to reading more on forum in the future.

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Eric Frei

Do you really need height along there?

Consider a lillypilly (Syzygium) called Aussie Boomer, it's a PBR plant, costs more but very reliable, dense, compact and doesn't grow into some wild rainforest tree. Should get no taller than the fence.

Aussie Boomer Lilly Pilly -

Plant 6 Syzygium Aussie Boomer pBr

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Shell Bell

No I don't need height - well not that much height anyway. The conifers were my husbands idea as we had a very narrow garden. Personally I don't like them at all and wanted a native garden but the house needed a more formal looking garden. Because we have so many Blue Wrens here, I will plant something that they can nest in safely, away from the Butcher Birds. We also have Eastern Rosellas here and I know they like the fruit from the Lillypilly. I have a variety of small trees/shrubs planted here - variegated lillypillies and Backhousia Citrodora, Port Wine Magnolia, Sweet Virburnum, Photinias, Claret Tops, Camelias and Gardenia Magnifica. I don't like seeing fences or houses so my intention was to plant a variety of interesting, tough plants which grow between 2-4 metres. The effect to date is very good and the birds love it here. The front fence has always been the bane of my life. I think it is ugly so the conifers are going, and I will be replacing them with a pretty evergreen flowering native.

I'll let you know when I get to it. I work mostly 7 days a week, so I need to have a garden that looks after itself and the conifers mean work for me.
Gotta get to work. Have a great day.

Shell Bell