Catalpa

Hi
I have a young Catalpa tree and have heard that you can hard prune these to give a pollarded effect.

It has become too tall and would benefit from being smaller!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how and when to do this?

Thanks

 

I cant advise you on pollarding but I can post a picture of a Catalpa that is about 160 years old !
They can grow rather large..

 

amazing that a tree with such a short growing in this part of the world can still get so big.....I would say there was no hurry with pruning, it is so late into leaf, early march maybe.

Have a lok at this http://apps.rhs.org.uk/AdviceSearch/Profile.aspx?pid=276

It maybe that one of the other methods will suit better than pollarding?

 

I'd cut it back now.
I usually prune mine about November, but it depends a bit on how old it is and how big it is now.

I keep mine to a 6ft stem, and each year cut the summer growth back to two buds, in spring I then allow only the strongest of the two buds to develop.
From that I get 8ft long stems with massive leaves.

Of course you first need to form the top framework of the plant if its a single stemmed young plant.
That means cutting back the stem to the required height and allowing two buds to form, the next autumn you cut both stems back to two buds and allow all four buds to grow.
You continue the doubling up process until you feel you have the head that you like.

A picture of your tree would help.
If its as big and old as capneys pic, I dont think I'd try.

 

Thanks for all you help!

The tree is only about 5 yrs old, with long straight branches at about 10 ft tall.
I think a good prune is in order