The black locust is a popular deciduous tree in this country that enriches numerous gardens. The great thing about the plant is, first and foremost, how easy it is to care for. The robinia naturally grows very evenly and usually retains its beautiful spherical shape. If you would still like to help out a little and turn the robinia into an eye-catcher in your garden with a graceful topiary, you will find everything you need to know here.
When and how should you cut a locust tree?
Pruning the robinia is not absolutely necessary as it naturally has a uniform, spherical shape. However, if topiary is desired, you should cut the black locust in winter, preferably in January or February, paying attention to its toxicity and sharp thorns.
Is pruning necessary?
The robinia is characterized by a round, spherical growth which occurs very evenly. Protruding branches that significantly disrupt the appearance are rather rare. With this special deciduous tree, pruning is not absolutely necessary. However, you can of course cut back your robinia. The following reasons might cause you to do this:
- Shortening the robinia to inhibit growth
- external damage after storm damage
Exception for the ball locust tree
The ball locust impresses, true to its name, with a uniform, round shape. This subspecies usually also manages without a radical cut. But if you are very meticulous and pay attention to detail, we recommend a topiary cut every now and then to maintain the spherical shape. This also applies to all other cultivated forms of robinia.
Tip
In addition to numerous small robinia species, there is also the option of cultivating the deciduous tree as a bonsai. The crown needs to be thinned out every few years. Since bonsai cultivation is usually done in a bucket, it is also advisable to shorten the roots. This is useful when repotting young specimens. Otherwise, this form of keeping requires hardly any work.
The right time
Pruning during the summer months could disrupt the growth of your black locust tree. Wait until winter when the deciduous tree retreats and stops growing. January and February are recommended months to remove annoying branches.
Precautions
You should always be careful when cutting robinia for two reasons:
- Robinia is highly poisonous
- the robinia has sharp thorns
Therefore, always wear gardening gloves when cutting the branches (€9.00 on Amazon) and be careful not to tear your clothing on the thorns. To be on the safe side, wash your hands well after pruning.
