Knowledgebase
Allegheny Serviceberry Pruning #889919
Asked November 16, 2024, 11:57 AM EST
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi,
You should prune off the left side of the trunk that is causing the tree to have a double leader. If you wait until February that would be best. In general, Serviceberry should be pruned after flowering so you are not cutting off the buds that will produce the spring blooms. In this case though, since the tree is not forming a central trunk, and it is very young still, you should prune to develop a stronger form. Maintain a dominant leader.
You should also remove the stakes and rope as that can girdle the trunk. It is best to allow young trees to sway in the wind and develop a strong root system and trunk and having it staked is preventing that.
It looks like it is planted a little too deeply as well. Tree trunks should have a flare at the bottom where they meet the soil, like the stem on a wine glass. You can gently remove the mulch and soil to find where it flares out at the roots. Buried root flares can set the stage for girdling roots as the tree grows because the roots will be searching for oxygen. They can start wrapping around the tree and strangle it under the soil. We have a blog article that explains this: https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2024/01/12/free-the-flare-maintain-visible-root-flare-for-tree-health/
There isn't any pruning that will make the tree fill out more quickly and after you prune the competing leader, it may look more sparse for a season. However, it will stimulate the branches to grow on that side and round out the canopy. You shouldn't limb it up anymore at this point either and allow it to grow and develop and in time the canopy will naturally fill out more.
Is it getting enough sun in that location? It will grow towards the most sun, so if it is shaded in one area, you may see it leaning because it wants to grow towards the light.
Emily