The ball robinia impresses with its tightly closed, lushly branched, round crown. Thanks to its excellent pruning tolerance, you can shape the picturesque house tree as you wish. Read this guide to find out when and how to properly cut the stylish acacia finish.
When and how do I cut a ball locust tree?
Pruning a ball locust is best done in late winter, during frost-free, dry weather. Care includes occasional thinning of the crown by removing damaged, stunted branches and dead wood. If there is a lack of space or wind breaks, a topiary can be carried out, with main branches shortened by up to two thirds.
Best time is in late winter
In the leafless stage, a ball locust's tolerance to pruning comes into its own at its best. Pruning measures within the crown have the maximum effect, primarily in late winter, shortly before new growth begins. Choose a date with frost-free, dry weather, preferably without blazing winter sun.
Naturally beautiful crown occasionally thin out
The ball locust forms its picturesque crown because the law of top promotion is no longer in force due to breeding interventions. In concrete terms, this means that growth is not concentrated on the tip bud, but rather that all shoots around it grow almost evenly.
Over the years, the spherical crown grows massively in height and width, up to 5 meters, without the trunk growing as a base for game. If you can offer your ball acacia the appropriate scope for development, pruning care is limited to occasional thinning of the crown. How to do it right:
- Thinning every 2 to 3 years in late winter
- Cut off damaged, inward-facing and stunted branches
- Cutting dead wood on a branch
Shoots with a diameter of up to 3 centimeters can be mastered with pruning shears or pruning shears. You can cut off thicker branches with a folding saw (€27.00 on Amazon), which is easy to maneuver in tight spaces. It is important to note that you do not cut into the bulging transition from branch to trunk. The so-called astring contains valuable cambium, which is responsible for wound healing.
Topiary trimming regulates crown expansion
Lack of space or wind breaks require extensive pruning of the crown. Now you will benefit from the pronounced pruning tolerance of a ball locust tree. As long as you do not cut into the grafting area, the extent of the cut is up to your horticultural assessment. How to proceed professionally:
- Tighten out dead branches in advance
- Cut back all main branches by up to two thirds
- Smooth cuts with a sharp, disinfected knife
- Cut shoots from the trunk at the base
- Tear off shoots from the tree disc with a strong jerk
The key to success is precise cutting. Place the saw or pruning shears about half a centimeter above a bud or a sleeping eye. The respective cut causes sap to accumulate in the branch, whereupon previously inactive buds sprout as new branches.
You should not only remove shoots from the trunk or tree disc in connection with a topiary. These are strongly growing wild shoots. Cut or tear off the unwanted branches as soon as possible, otherwise they will overgrow the noble crown.
Tip
You don't have to worry about heavy sap flow with a ball acacia, like when cutting a maple tree. However, you should exercise caution because Robinia pseudoacacia are poisonous in all parts. The bark in particular is permeated with toxic substances. Please wear gloves, long-sleeved clothing and safety glasses when thinning or cutting your locust tree into shape.
