How to Prune Red Tips
- 1). Wait until late winter to do any heavy pruning of the red tips. The plant will be dormant then, and will not immediately begin producing new shoots which will be susceptible to fungal infections that spread during the growing season.
- 2). Wipe down your pruning shear blades with a rag soaked in rubbing alcohol. This will help prevent the spread of infection. Wipe down the blades between each cut.
- 3). Cut back any dead or damaged branches, or any that showed signs of leaf spot during the growing season. Cut them back to the trunk.
- 4). Wait until summer to perform your shaping pruning. The leaves on the new growth will be drier, which helps prevent the spread of the fungal infection.
- 5). Let the new branches grow up to 12 inches long in the summer, then trim them back to 6 inches. Make the cuts just above a side shoot. Let the new stems reach 12 inches, then repeat the trimming. This will encourage the red tips to have a bushier, fuller shape.
- 6). Rake up any fallen leaves or twigs that fall as you prune the red tips. Discard them in the trash. This helps prevent fungus from forming under the tree.
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