<em>Albizia</em>: when and how to prune it?

Why prune albizia?

Left to its own devices, albizia naturally forms coppice shoots, giving it a natural, wild silhouette. It can do entirely without pruning, especially as it naturally has superb architecture. It takes a rather spreading form, with very horizontal branches and can reach 5 to 6 metres in span. With its flattened crown, it has a true umbrella habit. Pruning is therefore not essential, but it has benefits for appearance, health and maintenance of the bush. Formative pruning will give it a particular shape, for example by pruning it to a standard (to obtain a single, straight, non-ramified stem topped by the crown) that will showcase its architecture.

When to prune?

Albizia is pruned in late winter or early spring, ideally between late February and early March, like most trees that flower in summer, before new leaves appear. When young, you can carry out pruning every year; afterwards your bush will balance naturally, especially as Albizia does not tolerate severe pruning well once mature.

How to prune?

Use disinfected tools (pruning shear and loppers) and apply wound-sealing paste to wounds to limit risk of disease.

Stem training pruning

Stem training pruning involves shaping Albizia so crown is borne by a single trunk. It gives the tree a consistently very elegant silhouette. Carry out annually while tree is still young. Wait until Albizia reaches 1 m to 1.5 m in height before first pruning.

1. Select most robust, straight stem and stake it so it remains upright
2. Remove all low branches and all suckers
3. Remove crossing branches to give desired shape
4. Retain main scaffold branches
5. Each year, remove dead or damaged wood and cut back shoots to 5 or 6 buds
6. After a few years, when stem reaches desired height, cut the leading shoot and allow lateral branches to develop at its tip
7. Then let nature take its course, merely balancing silhouette if necessary

Crown training pruning

1. Each spring, remove shoots that grow vertically
2. Remove crossing branches

Reduction pruning

Albizia prefers fairly light pruning. If drastic cutting is necessary — for example to reduce Albizia’s branches — spread work over three years and, where possible, carry out in summer; this will be less traumatic for the bush because sap rise is lower than in spring.

Further information

• Discover our factsheet on Albizia diseases and parasitic organisms