Smoke bush/tree triming - Ask Extension
We have two young smoke bushes that have branches grown in excess of 12 feet. After the leaves have fallen, what is the best way to trim/prune these ...
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Smoke bush/tree triming #890186
Asked November 22, 2024, 3:27 PM EST
We have two young smoke bushes that have branches grown in excess of 12 feet. After the leaves have fallen, what is the best way to trim/prune these smoke bushes? Our preference are bushes no bigger than 6 feet in height.
Thank You
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi John and thanks for your question about pruning your Smoke Bush, Cotinus. Here is the answer from another master gardener named Diane:
"When to Prune a Smoke Tree or Bush
Trimming smoke trees can be done in late winter or very early spring. As a general rule, pruning smoke trees for shape is done in very early spring when the plant is still mostly dormant and the process will create less stress. Summer flowering shrubs such as smoke tree need to be pruned before flower buds have shown.
Shape it at this point and keep the plant below a certain height.
General pruning will include removing old wood, diseased or broken plant material and managing any suckers and water spouts. Any crossed branches need to be removed to prevent crowding and rubbing.
If you prune at the top of the shrub (rather than all over to shape and take out larger branches), the shrub will be encouraged to grow from the base. Re-shape it by cutting back the larger limbs for a gradual renewal pruning. In other words, don't cut all branches down - just the larger ones. Then lightly prune back the remaining smaller branches to reshape the shrub."
I hope this helps.
"When to Prune a Smoke Tree or Bush
Trimming smoke trees can be done in late winter or very early spring. As a general rule, pruning smoke trees for shape is done in very early spring when the plant is still mostly dormant and the process will create less stress. Summer flowering shrubs such as smoke tree need to be pruned before flower buds have shown.
Shape it at this point and keep the plant below a certain height.
General pruning will include removing old wood, diseased or broken plant material and managing any suckers and water spouts. Any crossed branches need to be removed to prevent crowding and rubbing.
If you prune at the top of the shrub (rather than all over to shape and take out larger branches), the shrub will be encouraged to grow from the base. Re-shape it by cutting back the larger limbs for a gradual renewal pruning. In other words, don't cut all branches down - just the larger ones. Then lightly prune back the remaining smaller branches to reshape the shrub."
I hope this helps.
