smoke bushes - Ask Extension
I have a larger (8-foot) smoke bush (tree?). One of the four main stem branches did not produce any leaves at all this year and appears dead. Upon in...
Knowledgebase
smoke bushes #274600
Asked August 31, 2015, 5:25 PM EDT
I have a larger (8-foot) smoke bush (tree?). One of the four main stem branches did not produce any leaves at all this year and appears dead. Upon inspection I see that there is a quarter-inch split running up most of this branch. Is it advisable to take this stem branch out? On another of the main stem branches the top 3 feet also appear dead--no leaves or buds all year--yet there are live branches coming off below this point. Again advisable to remove dead part? In both cases, if yes to remove dead portions, shall I wait until late winter/early spring next year, or can I do so now (9/1/15). Could severe pruning jeopardize the plant?
Waukesha County Wisconsin
Expert Response
Any dead wood can be trimmed out now (or anytime), but pruning for shape should happen in late winter, early spring. Smoke bush can take severe pruning - right down to the ground. It will come back fuller and with richer color, but there won't be any blossoms until the following year.
Thanks for contacting AaE!
Thanks for contacting AaE!
Thanks for the info. Have four of these smoke trees---and just noticed that all of them have some sort of "white blotches" on the main stems. Hopefully this is normal---and not any sort of disease. The trees all look good and seem to be doing fine. What say you?
Can you send a photo of the white patches? It could be something as simple as lichens, or something more serious like a fungal disease.
