Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Prune Cryptomeria
How to Prune Cryptomeria. Cryptomeria, commonly known as Japanese cedar, is a fast-growing tall evergreen tree with greenish-blue foliage and dramatically contrasting red-brown peeling bark. In optimal growing conditions and at maturity, cryptomeria can reach 60 feet in height. Cryptomerias are commonly used as decorative trees, green privacy...
Cryptomeria, commonly known as Japanese cedar, is a fast-growing tall evergreen tree with greenish-blue foliage and dramatically contrasting red-brown peeling bark. In optimal growing conditions and at maturity, cryptomeria can reach 60 feet in height. Cryptomerias are commonly used as decorative trees, green privacy screens, hedging and windbreaks. With their elegant symmetrical appearance, they are often used to line streets and alleys and used to create bonsai trees. Cryptomeria is unique in that its branches and trunk, when severely cut back, will re-row a sprout from the cut. They need not be pruned except to control the shape and size but are very resilient to pruning so do not be afraid to prune as you desire.
Things You'll Need
Clean, sharp loppers
Hand saw or chainsaw for large mature trees
Garden gloves
Ladder (if needed0
Don your gloves and inspect your cryptomeria carefully, using your loppers or hand saw to cut away any damaged or diseased branches. Pull the cut branches from out of the canopy and discard in the trash, bypassing the compost pile so as not to spread any disease.
Use your chainsaw, hand saw or loppers to cut away any crossing or unbalanced branches in the interior of the tree. Thin the branches to allow light penetration and good air flow while still maintaining the trees shape.
Work spherically around the perimeter of the cryptomeria, cutting away branches and limbs to shape and maintain a balance in the tree's appearance. With each cut, pull the cut branches from the canopy and set aside for the compost pile or dust bin.
Restart cryptomeria growth entirely by using your chainsaw to cut the trunk 1 foot to 3 feet above the soil and allow the cryptomeria to throw new shoots from the cut stump and eventually grow a new tree, which you can train and shape to your desire.
