AusBonsai

Hi Folks

I have access to large Hornbeam. The trees would be 8 ft +. I wish to reduce to a height of 3 ft. I realise that the time to drastically prune deciduous trees is late winter as the buds are starting to swell. What are your thoughts of doing it now in early autumn.

Fred

If you intend to leave it in the ground, I would remove a lot of growth from high in the tree and a little from lower down in an attempt to produce more buds in the lower areas which you intend to keep.

regards Gerard

Hi Fred,

I wouldn't prune hard at the end of winter on deciduous trees - they will bleed to death! A hard prune is best done when the sap is not rising, ie. as soon as the leaves have fallen during autumn, or alternatively, in the heat of summer - at the beginning of January.

Cheers,
Leigh.