When is the best time to prune fast-growing poplars?

Pruning of fast-growing poplar

The purpose of pruning fast-growing poplars is to achieve both high yield and high quality. The principle of pruning fast-growing poplars during the seedling period is to lightly prune branches and focus on retaining crowns, remove competing branches, and retain auxiliary branches.

Fast-growing poplar pruning time

Generally speaking, fast-growing poplars should not be pruned significantly during their 1 to 3 years of care to avoid weakening the tree and inhibiting its growth. Pruning of side branches should only begin when the breast diameter of the fast-growing poplar reaches 10 cm, and appropriate pruning should be performed depending on the growth of the crown.

Fast-growing poplar cutting propagation

Fast-growing poplars can be propagated by cuttings after their leaves fall in November and before they sprout in March or April of the following spring. At this time, the temperature and humidity are suitable for root germination, and the survival rate is relatively high.

Pruning method of fast-growing poplar

Pruning and trunk cleaning: Pruning of fast-growing poplars is for the purpose of cultivating materials for processing. When the diameter of the side branches on the trunk of a fast-growing poplar below 8 meters grows to 10 cm, the side branches should be pruned away to ensure that there are no nodes more than 10 cm beyond the core of the trunk. Whether to prune is determined based on the diameter of the trunk. Generally, a small amount of pruning can be done on 1-3 year old trees, and one-third of pruning can be done on 4-5 year old trees.

Pruning sprouts: After pruning fast-growing poplars, it is necessary to promptly remove the sprouts growing on the lower main trunk. Prune close to the trunk and leave no stubble. When pruning thick branches with a pruning saw, you can make a shallow cut at the bottom of the branch, and then proceed slowly from top to bottom without tearing the bark.

Precautions for pruning fast-growing poplars

Fast-growing poplars can be pruned and shaped when their vegetative growth stops and the trees have no leaves. Extensive pruning in the summer will affect their growth, and the wounds are prone to attract pests and diseases. However, pruning in the summer can inhibit the development of lateral shoots, so competing branches can be pruned and side branches can be removed in the summer.