AboutDarlene K. Kittle Expertise I have been a Master Gardener for 20 years and I raise around 300 houseplants a year including tropicals, succulents, and cacti.
Experience She is also studying the Japanese art of bonsai with tropical plants and is President of the Fort Wayne, IN Bonsai Club.
Education/Credentials I am not a hortculturist. I am a Purdue University Master Gardener for over 20 years. I have studied plants on a personal level by growing hundreds of plants annually for the last 35 years. I have also studied under several nationally known American Bonsai experts.
I have a large and very healthy Yucca tree in the back garden, please see the photo. I am a bit concerned about its hieght and want to reduce all the trunks by half or at least a third. The trunk on the right side (heading over my garage)I would like to remove all together.
When and how I can I do this without damaging or killing the tree?
Regards,
Mike.
Answer Michael,
It appears to me that there are 4 trunks above the split. Start by removing the one you want to totally remove and then also cut back one of the others where you want to cut it back to. Then wait for tnat to send out new shoots. When it does it may send out more shoots than you want. Pick the ones you want and pinch off the rest.
At that point you can cut off another branch and wait for it to grow sprouts then do the same as the first. Do not cut off all branches at the same time, there has to be some green left on the yucca at all times. If it gets to September 1st before you are able to cut the last branch off wait till spring to do that one.
Actually on second thought you could start with trimming 2 that you want to cut back and let them sprout out then do the third that you want to cut back and cut off the one you want to totally remove last that way you can cut that one off after September 1st and it will not matter because you don't want it to grow back. When you cut that one off it would be good to seal it with tree sealer because it will be a large wound. As long as the work is done between June 1st and August 30th it will not kill the plant. Do not overwater the plant or treat it any differently than normal during this time.
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