Pros to cutting back every spring:
Blooms are much larger.
Less "old wood" to treat for lichen and ball moss.
You can effectively keep you tree less than 20ft tall, by trimming back to around 6ft every year and not end up with a 30ft+ tree dropping blooms and leaves in your gutter.
Cons:
Some people will make fun of you.
It will never become a shade tree, unless you decide to stop cutting back. Yes, you can change your mind later, and start or stop cutting back in the spring.
For new young CM owners, if your CM is fairly bug and lichen free, I suggest allowing your tree to grow a few years before you begin yearly cut backs.
Owners of the red leafed/crimson blooming "Firecracker" type trees... good luck, not much you can do or not do to get what I would call a healthy looking, attractively blooming specimen.
|