Is this a variety of Cotoneaster? Pruning question...

Hi, I'm sort of new to gardening (or caring about my garden!) and new to the forum, but I expect I'll be visiting here often--looks like a great resource!

We have moved into a new house with a very small garden, but well established and quite pretty and manageable.

There is a shrub/tree in the front of the house of which I've attached a few pictures. I am trying to identify it and understand its pruning requirements.

I believe it is some sort of Cotoneaster. Is this correct? If so, does anyone know the variety?

Also, it seems to need pruning (right?). I'm not wild about the shape and was thinking it would look really nice as a small tree. I was thinking of pruning off the bottom branches to give it a somewhat spherical tree top. Is this a bad idea?

Thanks everyone for any comments. I think I'm gonna like this forum!

 

Looks like a variety of C.salicifolius to me, possibly Cornubia. I`d suggest you cut it to the shape, and size, that you want.:gnthb:

 

The arching branches and general dimensions, along with the leaf shape and back colour indicates that it's 'Cornubia', as Daitheplant suggests. Personally, I think it best to maintain it's natural arching shape.

 

I think it looks horrid!:lollol:

I would take the lower branches off to make a good 'tree' shape.

Depending on how thick the branches are, use good sharp loppers or a pruning saw. If you use loppers don't be tempted to force your way though branches are too thick, only those that come off easilly. With a pruning saw, a cut underneath first, willstop the bark ripping off as it breaks... take them right back to the main trunk.. don't leave a 'peg'

Take your time at it, start at the bottom and move up, keep standing back and looking at the shape, from all angles and think how it will look when the next one comes off........ Don't take off too many... you can't put them back! Then live with it for a while,if you have to go back another day to take more off, that's better than massacring it!

 

Thanks for all your comments. Does anyone know when it should be pruned? I've read that it flowers in June, so that would mean I would have to wait a very long time to shape it up. Is there any harm to pruning now? Thanks!

 

I would certainly do it now. You are the boss, not the plant.:gnthb::D:D:D

 

Don't laugh, but I'd love a large shrub like that one in my garden. The berries will attract the birds and go to make it look even better.

 

I think I read too much and maybe should try going on instinct a little more often. I'm just scared of ruining a plant! I think it is a beautiful shrub, it's just too thick and bushy at the bottom for my liking. There is a similar one just down the street, leaves are a bit lighter in color, but they have thinned it a bit and pruned it so that it has a nice V shape, w/ the upper branches arching over, and it looks so much better that way, and they seem to have more berries, more spread out over the plant. My berries seem to be concentrated right in the center. Anyway, thanks to everyone for your help!

 

Pruning a plant is like having a haircut, if it`s done wrong it will grow back.:gnthb:

 

Hmmmmm... I've never disagreed with a statement more!:skp:

Sorry Dai!

 

Your analogy would be fine for hedgeclipping, topiary, or cutting back perennials, but not for pruning a tree!

The whole idea of pruning is to reshape the whole appearence of the tree, permanantly, by removing whole limbs, so that they don't grow back, but encourages growth somewhere else on the plant.

Bad prunning can not only severely disfigure a tree for the rest of it's life, open up wounds where disease can enter, but might also kill it.

Not since the days of Sweeny Todd has a trip to the barbers been so potentially dangerous :lollol:

 

We are talking about an overgrown shrub here, not a mature Oak. :gnthb::gnthb::D:D:D

 

I have to agree with David on this one (i havent a clue about trees)
heres a pic of mine and i just cut off the bits that get in the way and its a Beautifull shape.. I once cut it down to ground level hoping id killed it (sorry) but it just sprung back up

If I cant walk behind the seat, i cut the branch off..

 

Ooooh! Daisy. You know what, I spend an eternity trying to grow shrubs like yours, it looks gorgeous! Oh woods woman, please spare that tree....:hehe::lollol: