Expert: Jim Hyland - 4/17/2010

Question
I have a dwarf blue spruce that has branches that appear to have died littered thoughout the tree.  Overall the tree looks healthy and has new growth this spring on many of its branches.  I am wondering if it is okay to trim those "dead" branches back a few inches?  Would it spur growth, as pruning does with other trees and would since the cultivar is a "globe" variety, would the other healthier branches eventually close in around the trimmed branches if I do trim them, say 2-3 inches?

Answer
Any dead branch should be pruned back to the trunk stem. This can be done for dead branches at any time of the year. It will not spur growth at that location on the trunk.  I would not prune the live branches until the Fall after the leaves have dropped. The new growth over time should cover the area where the dead branches were. I hope that is what you are asking.