For the rock pear, pruning does not mean the process by which defective Christmas trees were often polished up with artfully patched branches. When pruning a rock pear, it is rather a care measure that is intended to specifically force the transition from a shrub-like growth to the typical tree habitus.
How do I carry out the branching of the rock pear?
To branch the rock pear, select 3-5 he althy trunks, cut branches close to the trunk from below and remove a maximum of 50% of the plant mass. Limping promotes tree-like growth and can be carried out in autumn or winter.
Why fasten at all?
The serviceberry is a garden plant that usually blooms profusely and requires comparatively little maintenance. However, most varieties of serviceberry cannot really be clearly assigned to shrubs or trees due to their growth habit. As a rule, a planted rock pear produces several stems side by side over the years, which can branch out to the sides even at a relatively low height. Since this growth habit can take up a lot of the available space in a small garden, there is often a desire for a kind of topiary in the sense of a crown-like tree canopy.
The right time for fasting
Gardeners often only feel the need to prune a serviceberry when the plant in question has already developed into a real “monster” in the garden. Targeted pruning usually produces the best aesthetic results if targeted cuts in this direction are started at an early age of the rock pear. From a seasonal perspective, autumn and winter are best suited for pruning, as the cut is then better tolerated by the plant and branches are much easier to see visually, even without attached leaves.
This is how you do the branching process
When pruning a serviceberry, the following advice should be heeded:
- Select three to five he althy trunks beforehand and leave them standing
- Always cut branches as close to the trunk as possible
- Always make cuts from below
- avoid injuring the trunk if possible
- leave about half of the original plant mass
Since rock pears react much more sensitively to severe pruning than many other plants, even when pruning, only a maximum of half of the original plant mass should be removed. Start from the ground and slowly work your way up to about half the height of the rock pear. Use the sharpest possible saw (€38.00 on Amazon) and always make the cuts from below on the branches, otherwise damage to the trunk due to torn bark cannot be ruled out.
Tip
When pruning in the heat of the moment, do not overshoot your target and spare the leading shoots of the rock pear at its tip. Cutting errors in the upper crown area of a serviceberry can sometimes not be compensated for by fresh growth for years.
