The Japanese cedar is one of the cypresses with an extremely fast growth rate. Pruning is recommended to curb growth. But this should be done at the right time.
The Japanese cedar belongs to the cypress family and is found in large numbers in the Japanese forests. It is also found in China and here in Europe since the 19th century. Many gardeners have planted them here because they see something special in the Asian-style conifer.
The Japanese sickle fir is not only used as a conifer for your own forest, but often also as a bonsai that beautifies the balcony or terrace. The Japanese cedar may need to be pruned, trimmed or trimmed - which is why it is important for owners to know the things to consider when pruning the fir.
Does the Japanese cedar need to be pruned at all?
Because the Japanese cedar grows quite straight and symmetrical by nature, many gardeners refrain from pruning and trimming. In fact, it is not absolutely necessary to prune the conifer - unless symmetry is not achieved or you need to control the length of the plant and remove dead parts. Also, because the Japanese cedar grows very quickly, some hobby gardeners feel it is their duty to control and slow down growth by trimming.
The advantage of the Japanese cedar is, however, that it tolerates pruning well, even in more radical cases, and quickly regains its original shape thanks to good growth. So if you want to prune for any reason, this conifer can do it at will without any problems. Nevertheless, there are a few things to consider in order not to damage the Japanese cedar tree in the long term or even let it die off.
Pruning time
Anyone who would like to dare to cut the Japanese cedar for various reasons should do so at the perfect time - otherwise the fir may dry out due to the cut orsuffers other damage. Late summer or autumn is usually recommended as the ideal time to cut a Japanese cedar. During this time, the conifers largely stop budding and prepare for the coming winter, and the pressure in the plant containers is also slightly lower, so that bleeding can be minimized. In addition, whenever you try to cut, you should choose a day when there is no frost, which is as cloudy as possible and also dry, so that the cut can heal properly.
Perform pruning
Whatever the reason for wanting to prune Japanese cedar, the key is to make a good cut. If possible, the cut should not be made directly on the trunk, but immediately in front of the buds and shoots or needles closest to the trunk. At the same time, make sure that the cuts are made at an angle so that the water can drain off and moisture can dry better. This is the only way to prevent the cut from rotting or making it easier for germs to enter. If possible, thicker branches should always be cut or sawed from below. If you do this from above, there is a high risk, due to gravity, that they will break off downwards and damage the trunk itself.
Reasons for pruning
From the point of view of a gardener, there can be several reasons for pruning the conifer despite its almost perfect growth. This includes, for example:
- desire for a certain height
- too rapid growth of the fir tree
- desire for denser growth
- creating a specific shape of the tree
- to maintain he althy branches and remove diseased or dead ones
- to gain some cuttings, i.e. to propagate the tree
- for removing crooked or awkwardly growing branches
- for rejuvenation with the help of a radical cut
Whether you want to prune the Japanese cedar for one or more of the reasons above, or simply want to give it a little maintenance, the Japanese cedar will tolerate the process very well, given the needs of the tree and pay attention.
❖ Remove dead branches and unhe althy shoots
If there's any good reason to prune the Japanese cedar, it's for dead and unhe althy branches. If you find dried shoots, dried needles oreven dry patches that adorn the tree can be the culprit of sunburn. It is advisable to remove the shoots that look unhe althy or have already died. Here, however, it is again important not to damage the trunk, but to cut the shoot shortly beforehand so that the wound is not directly on the trunk. Regular removal of dry and dead branches not only helps the conifer look he althier, but also minimizes the spread of diseases and pests.
❖ Get rid of unsightly growing branches for a symmetrical look
If you want to improve the symmetry of the conifer and get rid of crossing or overlapping branches, the pruning procedure is similar. If it is a large branch to be cut, it is advisable to cut it from the outside in at 20 cm intervals, so that you have to make several cuts on the branch. This prevents the branch from breaking the trunk due to the force exerted on it, damaging its bark and making it vulnerable to pests. Even in such cases, sufficient distance to the bark must be maintained when it comes to the final cut. By the way, such selective pruning of the Japanese conifer prevents it from becoming bare from the inside out.
❖ Radical Cut
In a few cases it may make sense to carry out a radical pruning of the Japanese cedar for the purpose of rejuvenation or to get rid of pests. You can even cut right into the old wood, but proceed as carefully as possible. The less you have to take away, the better for the tree. Although a Japanese cedar usually tolerates such radical measures well and generally grows quickly, it can happen with such a pruning that growth is very slow and it takes a few years before the tree can develop its full splendor again - usually but then it turns out to be stronger.
❖ Cut to choose shape
When it comes to perfecting the shape of the Asian conifer, a well-sharpened hedge trimmer can be chosen. A cut of up to two inches into the shoots can help shape the contours more at will and encourage the tree to grow a little more densely. Anyone who wants to use the Japanese sickle fir as a privacy screen will also benefit from such a cut. Carefully shortening is also possible in this way.
Advantages
✔ even radical cutsare well tolerated
✔ Trimming, shortening and selecting cuttings is possible without any problems
✔ Sorting out dry branches is good for the tree
✔ Separated shoots can possibly be used further, for example as winter protection for young plants
Cons
✘ Injuring the trunk makes it more susceptible to pests and germs or rotting
✘ Cutting in hot or sunny conditions could result in sunburn damage to the tree
✘ If you cut young plants in spring, the tree could bleed profusely and not recover quickly