When can I trim a Buckeye tree?
by Carol
+1
I live in central Illinois. I have a Buckeye tree that badly needs the lower limbs trimmed off. Last year there were so many Buckeyes the limbs were down to the ground. Some of them did not return to upright position. When can I prune this tree. It’s now mid January.
Suggested Project Book
Late spring is what is recommended, so you have time. These sites will help you.
https://www.gardenguides.com/70413-prune-ohio-buckeye.html
https://www.midwestgardentips.com/trees-index-1/buckeye-trees
http://www.uky.edu/hort/Red-Buckeye
Don't trim too closely to the main trunk, or you will invite diseases that may eventually kill your tree.
Thanks for all your help.
If you’re concerned that a heavy wet snow or ice storm is going to break your branches, before Spring, I would trim them 1/4 of the way back, now. Yes, now.
The tree has been dormant for 2 months and this should be fine.
Yes, I understand it’s winter in Illinois ❄️❄️❄️
I would not remove the entire branch now and that requires knowing where The Collar is at the base. I’ll explain that later.
If you want to cut more than 1/4 of the length of a branch,
The Rule of Thirds applies here: no more than 1/3 is to be removed, ever.
It should be cut at a Lateral ( a “Y”).
Before you use those loppers & tree saw, wipe them down with bleach water in the basement or warm area, not outside.
Storm breakage can be devastating to the health of the tree, not to mention if the branches crash into something else & break it too. That’s why I wrote, trim it now.