Cotoneaster

Question:

I have a cotoneaster tree that has grown stalks all the way down the trunk. Can I cut these off so it stays a tree and doesn’t become a bush? How? Does the cut face in or out? Is it ok now?

Answer:

The best time to prune or remove any unwanted branches is after the plant has finished flowering in late spring or early summer, so now will be fine. You will be able to remove any branches you wish in order to produce the shape you want. If you need to remove a large number of branches in order to achieve the final shape, you may want to do some now and some next year to reduce the shock to the plant. When pruning any plant you should try to cut branches with a downward slope so that any rain falling on the cut will fall away and not sit on the open wound.

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