Prune a New Zealand Christmas tree after the red flowers fade, and cut back to a branch, not a stub. A well-sited tree needs little work.
Prune after the flowers fade, and cut back to a branch
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After the red stamen brushes fade, in summer | Do not cut hard in late winter if you want that year's bloom |
| Cut | Back to a live side branch or a bud | Do not leave long stubs that sprout a thicket |
| Amount | Dead, crossing, or rubbing wood first; keep live-crown cuts light | Do not take off more than about a quarter of the live crown at once |
| Tools | Sharp bypass shears or a pruning saw | Do not tear bark with a dull blade |
New Zealand Christmas tree holds next year's flower buds on the wood you would cut in winter, so wait until the scarlet brushes fade. [1] It is pruning group 1: little regular work if the tree has room. [2] Always finish the cut at a live branch or a bud. A stub sends a flush of weak shoots.
- Wait until the red flowers have dropped.
- Take out dead, broken, and crossing wood first.
- Shorten a long shoot back to a side branch that can take the load.
- Stop while the inner canopy still has leaves. Do not strip the tree to a few tufts at the tips.
When do I prune a New Zealand Christmas tree?
After the flowers fade. A winter cut removes that year's bloom. Light deadwood can come off any time.
Train a tree or a hedge, and do not strip the inner growth
Decide the form while the plant is young. For a street tree, raise the lower branches over a few years so you can walk under it. For a hedge, clip lightly after bloom, and again only if you accept fewer flowers. [3] Leave inner shoots. If you strip the interior and leave foliage only at the tips, the remaining limbs sail in wind and have nothing to cut back to later. [4] Sun, soil, and the first-summer water calendar stay on How to Grow New Zealand Christmas Tree.
- Pick a tree, a multi-stem specimen, or a clipped screen before you start.
- On a tree, remove a low branch each year after bloom until the crown is clear of the path.
- On a hedge, take a light clip after the flowers fade. Keep leaves on the inside of the screen.
- Do not top the tree or hollow out the interior. Hire an arborist for a large, old crown over a target.
Can I hedge a New Zealand Christmas tree?
Yes, with light clips after bloom. Do not strip the inner growth, and do not use tight annual-hedge spacing on this thirty-foot species.
If a winter cut stole the bloom, wait until after the next flush and take only dead or crossing wood.
FAQ
Will it resprout if I cut it hard?
Healthy plants often sprout from old wood, but a hard cut looks bare for a season and can stall bloom. Keep live leaves on the stems you leave.
Do aerial roots mean I should prune?
No. Aerial roots are how the tree braces itself. Cut one only if it is in the way of a path.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Kings Plant Barn -
https://www.kings.co.nz/growing-guides/metrosideros - [2] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/11097/metrosideros-excelsa/details - [3] The Plant Company -
https://www.theplantcompany.co.nz/expert-advice/pohutukawa-rata-guides - [4] Pro Climb -
https://www.proclimb.co.nz/blog/pruning-pohutukawa-trees-auckland/
This note is part of Metrosideros Guides.
More pruning timing notes by plant live in Pruning Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors