Vinegar trees provide shade and are visual eye-catchers all year round. They are easy-care trees, but the issue of pruning in particular causes confusion. If you wait for the right time and take a few factors into account, you will support interesting growth.
When and how should you prune a vinegar tree?
Vinegar trees generally do not require pruning, except for small crown corrections. If pruning is necessary, do it in fall or spring. Make sure to cut as few branches as possible and remove crossing branches.
Do vinegar trees need to be cut?
Vinegar trees grow as multi-stemmed shrubs with a broad crown. In nature, the trees grow between three and five meters high. Under favorable conditions they reach heights of between seven and ten meters. The vinegar tree does not need any pruning. This care measure ensures that the bushes sprout uncontrollably. It is not uncommon for vinegar trees to develop up to three new shoots at the interfaces.
When a cut is necessary
A cut is recommended for small crown corrections. Radical pruning measures may be necessary if the shrub grows too tall or wide. A maintenance pruning makes sense if the bushy bush grows bare in the crown. This development is normal because the dense growth prevents the sun from penetrating and promotes poor ventilation of the crown.
Vinegar trees, mainly on sandy soils, have a tendency to develop root runners, which often sprout up to ten meters away from the main trunk. To prevent uncontrolled spread, you must trim the runners regularly. Cutting back close to the ground promotes the formation of runners. Only carry out this radical pruning if the old tree is growing too tall and needs to be removed. The foothills are ideal for rejuvenation.
The ideal time
Wait until autumn to prune intensively. The ideal time is when the shrub has completed its growing season. This is the case as soon as the leaves have fallen off. Alternatively, you can cut the vinegar tree in spring before new growth begins. You can cut individual branches and root shoots throughout the entire growing season.
Tips for the right cut
Make sure to cut as few branches as possible. Cut branches at least three to five millimeters above a sleeping eye. The vinegar tree will later sprout in these places. The pruning shears are placed at a slight angle. Seal large incision sites with tree wax (€11.00 at Amazon) to prevent infection. Vinegar trees produce milky sap that comes out of the cut sites and can cause skin irritation. Therefore, wear gloves.
How to cut correctly:
- Think out bushy shrubs generously
- Leave branches 20 centimeters apart from each other
- cutting crossing branches
- remove stunted and dried branches
The straight, long-growing branches are called water shoots. They can be trimmed all year round. Cut these shoots as deeply as possible. If the vinegar tree develops new water shoots, only consistent cutting will help. Remove shoots that develop on the tree discs. If you grow your vinegar tree in a container, you can keep it in check with regular pruning.
