Marianne's Response

gregwarner’s Question

I have an dwarf alberta spruce tree that I want to turn into a “spiral” tree. The last time I did the cutting in late fall, the tree died the following year. What time of the year should I do this? Can I do it this time of year??

Posted by gregory warner on February 23, 2017

Marianne's Response

I suggest you wait until mid spring such as April to do heavy pruning on your spruce. Just be sure you keep the soil moist during the summer as the tree will be a bit shocked by the severe pruning. You may want to do a lighter pruning this year then cut deeper into the spiral shape the following year to give the tree time to adjust. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti