Sphere trees make an optical impression and decorate many a front yard. In our guide we explain what needs to be considered when pruning the individual species.
Ball trees are pretty to look at and also an ornament in smaller gardens. However, most trees do not automatically grow in exact curves, but have to be shaped by you. If you already own a spherical tree or would like one - for example to border the driveway - you can find out here how to shape the easy-care spherical trees with suitable pruning measures and make them an eye-catcher.What is special about the ball tree?
Sphere trees are robust and easy to care for. The biggest advantage of these plants is their size. Ball trees grow slowly and reach a maximum height of only a few meters. So when you buy it, find out whether the ball tree fits your needs. There are definitely trees that can grow to almost ten meters in height. Far more suitable for the small front garden are species that only reach heights of growth of between three and four meters.
Why doesn't the ball tree get any taller?
You won't find the small trees with their round crowns in the great outdoors. The suspicion is therefore that the hand of the gardener is involved here. Of course, trees can easily be cut back so that they don't grow taller. For the spherical tree, however, the refinement is common.
In the nurseries, a slow-growing crown is therefore placed on a straight trunk. The trunk will not grow any further after that, it will only increase in girth. The crown grows larger, but can be kept in good shape with regular pruning.
What are the most popular ball trees?
The most popular spherical trees in German gardens include:
- Maple
- Kugelashe
- Spherical Plane Tree
- Robinia
- Ball Trumpet Tree
We would now like to introduce you to the individual species in more detail:
➩ spherical robinia
The spherical robinia conjures up Mediterranean charm in every garden with its pinnate leaves. Externally, the robinia is strongly reminiscent of theAcacia. The trees only grow three to four meters high, with the trunk alone measuring around 2.5 meters.
➔ Tip: Locusts grow particularly quickly in the first few years.
The trees need a sunny and sheltered spot and can withstand the summer heat. The tree can be planted on any frost-free day of the year. In order for the tree to grow well, it is watered regularly. The trees are hardy. Black Locust not blooming.
The globe locust can be affected by leaf spot disease. The fungal disease can be recognized by small leaf spots. Leaf fall occurs. The leaves are to be disposed of and do not belong in the compost. Lice and the black locust leaf miner can be dangerous to the trees as pests.
➔ Warning: All parts of the plant are poisonous! Bark and seeds contain most of the toxins.
Advice for the right cut:
The spherical black locust tolerates pruning well. Basically, no regular cut is necessary. Since the tree grows quite quickly, you can also cut back radically. Older trees receive a rejuvenation pruning of the crown. Pruning is preferred in late winter.
➩ Ball Maple
The ball maple is particularly popular in small gardens. The plants grow to around five meters in height and just as wide. Flowering begins in April. The golden yellow autumn color is also an ornament. The maple prefers sunny to half-shade. After planting, the tree needs a lot of moisture. So that the moisture does not evaporate so quickly, it is advisable to create a pouring rim. The plants are very easy to care for and are rarely attacked by pests. Diseases that can occur include powdery mildew, red pustule disease or Verticillium wilt.
Advice for the right cut:
Pruning measures are not absolutely necessary, but are well tolerated. The maple should only be pruned in winter, as the branches bleed a lot in spring. A radical cut is also possible to shape or rebuild the crown.
➩ Ball Ash
The slow-growing spherical ash is the ideal addition for the small garden. The tree grows to a maximum height of six meters and is up to three meters wide. With its rather small crown, the spherical ash fits well in the front yard and can be used to border the entrance or garage area. The tree likes to stand in the sun and will also do well in a draughty locationBall ash not harm. The ball ash does not bloom.
The soil should be moist and deep. The spherical ash is happy about the administration of compost as a long-term fertilizer. A danger for the trees is the dying of ash trees. This mainly affects young trees. The disease manifests itself in the withering and dropping of the leaves and also affects the branches and finally the entire crown. The ash bark beetle and the leafhopper can also cause great damage to the trees.
Advice for the right cut:
The spherical ash does not develop a typically round crown, but rather grows narrow and umbrella-shaped. This gives the tree an elegant appearance. Cutting measures are rather unusual. You should refrain from a radical pruning. It is better to spread large-scale pruning measures over several years.
➩ Sycamore
The spherical plane tree grows to a maximum of four meters in height and forms a particularly even, round crown. This reminds the hobby gardener of vacations in the south and the plane trees that grow there. The rather inconspicuous flowers appear in May. An eye-catcher, on the other hand, are the spherical fruits that appear in autumn. The brown-yellow autumn color is also extremely attractive.
The ideal location is in the sun or semi-shade. The substrate should not be too moist.
Tip: The trees can be transplanted without any problems if the location has not been chosen appropriately.
Occasionally, the spherical plane tree can be affected by fungal diseases. Affected branches will discolour and then decompose.
Advice for the right cut:
Plane trees tolerate pruning very well. However, pruning is only carried out on older trees or diseased plants. Then the pruning should be done down to the he althy wood.
➩ Ball Trumpet Tree
With a total height of around three meters, the 'Nana' trumpet tree (see title picture above) is the right house tree, even for small gardens. You can set up a set of chairs in its shade and enjoy the chirping of birds, because the tree is often used as a nesting place. The spherical crown becomes increasingly broader in older trees, but this in no way detracts from the visual appearance of the plant.
The trees prefer a sunny to half-shady position and are protected. Prolonged drought is easily tolerated. You can also cultivate the tree in a bucket when it is young. Sufficient moisture is required.Occasionally the ball trumpet tree is infested with lice. Smut fungus and Verticillium wilt also occur.
Advice for the right cut:
Pruning measures can be carried out, but are rather uncommon. If you want to prune the ball trumpet tree, you should use the months of February to March.
Cutting the spherical tree - what should be considered?
The spherical tree grows rather low. However, what is tended to be underestimated by many hobby gardeners - older trees sometimes grow considerably in width. Then the crowns no longer appear spherical, but more like a pancake. That's why they are also called "pancake crowns". To keep the trees visually in shape, you should use scissors from time to time.
The late winter is the ideal season for pruning. First, all main branches are cut back to a length of about 20 centimeters. When cutting, be sure to cut near the sleeping eyes. Then the plant can sprout again close to the cut surface. In order for the crown to develop as desired, a new cut should be made after about three years. Then the branches that have been newly expelled at the former intersections are cut back down to their roots. For particularly dense crowns, reduce the number of knots.
➩ Thin out the spherical tree
When you thin out your spherical tree, you don't do any radical pruning, you just remove old and damaged branches. The branches are removed immediately at the base. No stubs should be left. Make an extra clean cut. This can only be done with a sharp cutting tool.
➩ Cut back the ball tree
The pruning can be done annually in late winter. This contributes to a compact growth of the plant. However, the cutting measures are not absolutely necessary. Grafted plants from nurseries grow bushy and compact anyway. Simply decide here on a case-by-case basis. The fact is that almost all spherical trees tolerate pruning well and reliably drive them out again.
Perform pruning measures after damage
If the ball tree is damaged after storms or by pest infestation and disease, a radical pruning measure is recommended. Do not be afraid here and cut off all branches that are above the grafting point. Leave a few particularly well-developed branches. These serve as the basis for the new formation of the crown. Will inCut back in late winter, the plant will reliably sprout again just a few weeks later.
If the crown doesn't form
If the hoped-for spherical crown does not form after the cut, you have not cut back directly above the grafting point. Cut the branches back to the grafting site, leaving no stubs. When cutting, ensure that the tool is clean and sharp. Smooth cut edges provide little surface area for fungi and pests to attack. If you work with unsharp tools, the cut edges will fray and the plant will be vulnerable to diseases and pests.
Note NoGos when pruning trees
Tree pruning should preferably take place in the winter months. Then the ball tree can regenerate well before it sprout again. However, never cut in frost. If the thermometer falls below minus five degrees, the branches could break and the tree could be permanently damaged. If the maple or robinia is only pruned in spring, this can adversely affect the growth of the plants. Since the trees sprout early, they bleed profusely when cut. Important nutrients are lost with the escaping plant sap. Always prune these trees in early fall when the tree has less sap and less nutrient loss.
Tip: Shrubs that sprout early need sufficient time to regenerate and should therefore be pruned in autumn or early winter.