Best Time for Big Cuts On A Burning Bush?

[SilentMouse]

So this year I got a pair of Burning Bushes with beautiful thick and tapered trunks, and have been reading some things on here about their care and when to do work on them. From what I gather when in development it's good to prune them in the fall. However, I have some drastic cuts to give them initially- there are some branches that are thicker than I want and they need to come off. Would they respond better to this kind of drastic cut back in the spring or right now (with fall in full swing) after their leaves drop off?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[MHBonsai]

Some photos would go a long way if you are looking for some good advice!

I prune mine in the fall to set them up to grow and ramify in the spring time…and also prune in early summer. It really depends on what stage the tree is in.

I love euonymus though, can be great predictable material to work with.

 

[rockm]

So this year I got a pair of Burning Bushes with beautiful thick and tapered trunks, and have been reading some things on here about their care and when to do work on them. From what I gather when in development it's good to prune them in the fall. However, I have some drastic cuts to give them initially- there are some branches that are thicker than I want and they need to come off. Would they respond better to this kind of drastic cut back in the spring or right now (with fall in full swing) after their leaves drop off?

Any help is appreciated!

Why the rush? No real reason to do any of this right now. It's not good to do drastic pruning in the fall. Don't know where you heard that. Doing so risks sap withdrawal and winter die back from drying out--particularly in a Michigan winter, not to mention to real healing for months.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Why the rush? No real reason to do any of this right now. It's not good to do drastic pruning in the fall. Don't know where you heard that. Doing so risks sap withdrawal and winter die back from drying out--particularly in a Michigan winter, not to mention to real healing for months.

Agreed. And be ready to deal with scars because they’ll never heal. Make cuts to the back.

 

[SilentMouse]

I

Why the rush? No real reason to do any of this right now. It's not good to do drastic pruning in the fall. Don't know where you heard that. Doing so risks sap withdrawal and winter die back from drying out--particularly in a Michigan winter, not to mention to real healing for months.

If that holds true for this particular species, I'll happily wait. Just seen most people prune these in the fall after the leaves drop, and was wondering if this applied to drastic pruning. But bringing up the winters here, I was concerned about that as well and I think you made up my mind. I'll take the hit if doing it the spring doesn't help in developing it.