Under a spruce hardly any other plants grow. If the branches reach to the ground, then there is no space for paths or seats, which is why the lower branches are often sawn off. This can be useful, but should be well planned and carried out carefully.
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What if I cut off the lower branches?
Branches that you have cut or sawed off once will not grow back. If holes or gaps arise in the silhouette as a result of cutting measures, then these will only grow closed very slowly or not at all.
Cut So always do so in such a way that the harmonious overall appearance of your spruce is not disturbed. In order to maintain the stability of the tree, the spruce should not only be pruned on one side, for example because the neighbor is annoyed by overhanging branches.
What should I watch out for when cutting?
The lower branches of a spruce are usually quite long and accordingly thick or stable. Do you just want one of them
saw off, then the branch will break off before it is completely sawn through. This will tear the bark.If you saw close to the trunk, the bark of the trunk may be seriously injured by the pathogens Red rot or others Diseases can penetrate. It is therefore better to saw in two steps.
First saw the branch to be removed in approx. 40 to 50 centimeters from the trunk from below about a third deep. Then saw it from above about ten centimeters closer to the trunk. The branch will break, but it will not damage the trunk.
The essentials in brief:
- branches that have been sawn off do not grow back
- Gaps close only very slowly
- ideal time for pruning: November to February
- Choose a frost-free day (reduces the risk of splinters)
- saw in 2 steps (reduces the risk of injury to the trunk)
Tips
The period from November to January is ideal for sawing off the lower branches.