If you have not done this begin now and continue the practice.

One method involves pruning; cut some or all of the stems to ground level in early spring before growth begins. Regrowth is vigorous. Encircling plants with metal root barriers is an effective alternative to regular pruning. Jul 19, Like most trees, if you remove a huge amount the shock can set it back or even kill it. We cut down several rhus last winter, removing all the growth over six feet.

Do this when it's dormant in the late winter. New growth will come in the spring. We found that by doing this however, it encouraged even more suckering than before! Clean the blades of your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol if you have used them to cut any diseased branches. Doing so helps you avoid contaminating the plant’s healthy growth.

5 Clip any. Feb 10, We have inherited a couple of rhus in the front garden which are attractive but now very 'leggy', so we want cutting back ornamental trees reduce them ideally so that they recover to 5 feet or so. They are currently about feet high, same spread, main stems inches diameter.

The gardening books are conflicting - one says prune to ground in February-April, the other says prune to 1 foot from the ground in February. Sumac trees (Rhus spp.) require annual pruning to control their size and shape. If left to nature's devices, these trees would grow quite shrubby and overgrown. With a sprawl equal to and sometimes greater than the height, sumacs require enough room to grow, or hard pruning to keep them in their place.

Advertisement. Sumac trees (Rhus spp.) require annual pruning to control their size and shape. If left to nature's devices, these trees would grow quite shrubby and overgrown. With a sprawl equal to and sometimes greater than the height, sumacs require enough room to grow, or hard pruning. Cut off any suckers growing from the trunk with a pair of pruning shears. Remove any low-hanging branches that impede nearby foot traffic. Thin the remaining canopy by 20 percent, removing broken.

Rhus lancea is a tree with many problems. It is a very poor choice, since though it’s drought resistant, it’s not particularly attractive and much too wide. Additionally, you didn’t tell me where you live or mention your climate zone.

Rhus lancea does better inland than.