The structure of the crown of the Nordmann fir is natural. Every copy adheres to this. Cutting is therefore usually not an issue. Every now and then it may lose a few branch tips. Decide for yourself when that needs to be.
How do you make a topiary cut on a Nordmann fir?
A topiary cut on a Nordmann fir should be done after the flowering period in June. It is important to only cut young shoots, as the fir no longer sprouts from old wood. Shorten outer shoots, remove diseased and dead shoots and redirect horizontal shoots to shorter side shoots.
Pruning tolerance of this fir species
This type of fir has a few pitfalls for us when cutting. Yes, it can be cut, but only within certain limits. There can be no question of cutting pleasure. The fact is that the Nordmann fir can no longer sprout from old wood.
Whenever you cut, make sure to only use the scissors on young shoots if you want the conifer to sprout again at the cut points.
Start of cutting and best time
You should leave the branches of a young Nordmann fir untouched for the first three years. It grows very slowly anyway. From the age of four onwards, moderate cutting can make sense because annual growth increases significantly. The shoots can become longer than desired, with the result that after a few years there will be a tall, narrow fir tree in the garden.
The best time for specific pruning measures to promote dense branching is after the fir tree has bloomed, around June.
Raising a young fir tree
The original Nordmann fir, which comes from the West Caucasus and is therefore also called the Caucasus fir, grows upright with a straight trunk. The refined varieties sold in this country tend to tip over. However, there is no need for a cut to ensure a symmetrical crown shape. It is sufficient if you tie the fir tree to a support post for the first few years of its life.
If several vertical shoots have developed, all but one must be removed. This is best done in summer while they are still green.
Procedure for topiary
Grab a pair of cleaned and disinfected secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon) to avoid transmitting any diseases. The cutting tool should also be well sharpened.
- shorten only the outer shoots
- remove diseased and dead shoots completely
Tip
Only add the cut material cut into small pieces and in small quantities to the compost heap. Otherwise, the pH value of the soil can slip into the acidic range.
Major fixes
Horizontal shoots that become too long must be redirected to a shorter side shoot. This will then be slimmed down. The top of the fir tree can also be cut off. Then a side shoot must form the new tip. For this it may have to be tied up.
However, it is better than such serious measures to choose a sufficiently large location when planting and to ensure sufficient planting distance.
