How to prune arborvitae

When is the right time to prune arborvitae?

Arborvitae is usually pruned in spring, before budding, as pruning at this time can quickly recover and is beneficial to its growth.

Pruning branches and leaves: The branches that are pruned for Platycladus orientalis are mainly dead branches, diseased and insect-damaged branches, thin and weak branches, overcrowded branches, and overgrown branches. There are two pruning methods: short pruning and thinning. Young trees are generally not pruned. After 5 years of planting, pruning with a 1/3 pruning intensity is carried out in early winter or early spring from November to December.

Tips for pruning arborvitae

Topping pruning: If the arborvitae grows too tall, if we don’t want it to grow too tall, we need to perform topping pruning. This is very important, that is, to trim off the top of the main stem, so that only side branches will grow.

Pruning of withered branches: We also need to prune off the withered branches, because the withered branches will affect the growth of Platycladus orientalis, easily block the sunlight, and also easily cause some branches and leaves to be blocked and appear yellow leaves and other phenomena.

Pruning of dying branches: We also need to prune the dying branches. If we don’t prune them, they will continue to absorb a certain amount of water and nutrients, which is not good. It is best to prune them directly.

Pruning of dense branches: We also need to prune those branches that grow particularly densely. Those branches that are too dense are prone to insect pests, which can lead to erosion. We need to pay special attention to this, and it can also easily lead to poor heat dissipation.

Precautions for pruning arborvitae

Need to prune obliquely: When pruning, we need to prune obliquely, which is conducive to the healing of the wound. We need to know this. Don't prune straight. There are some techniques for pruning branches, so don't prune casually.

Ensure symmetry in pruning: When pruning, we need to ensure the overall symmetry. There should not be more pruning in some places and less pruning in others. This will easily cause the arborvitae to become crooked in the later stage. This requires special attention.