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Help identifying shrub/tree

dan_in_winfield

13 years ago

I'm in the Chicago suburbs (5a?)

I wonder if you can help me identify this ornamental tree (or huge shrub). You can probably see in the pic that I pruned all the bottom branches off last season, but it grows very aggressively from the bottom, so now it's a freak. My wife is suggesting I cut off all the top (old) growth and keep it lower and more shrub-like.

* How should this think look if managed properly?

* Should I let it all fill in and be a tall flowering tree?

and

* it is terrible with sending out shoots. I just mow them. Any thoughts on that? http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/A8ZN-VXQQEaOQEBLNDrg0A?feat=directlink http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qRzHMlLVArJb2_N0dYsiqQ?feat=directlink

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Comments (4)

Iris GW
13 years ago
Can you show a close up of the leaves and/or flowers?

Here is a link that might be useful: Your picture
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
close up pix..

and google REJUVENATION PRUNING OF FLOWERING SHRUBS.. on how to do it the right way

ken
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sam_md
13 years ago
Do the flowers make you want to vomit? If so, you have Common Privet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ligustrum vulgare
Embothrium
13 years ago
If the much larger tree behind was also skinned up that way by you then you are definitely cutting too much off. See the replacement shoots coming of the one trunk? That's a hint: if an older tree sends out a new branch where you have cut one off, you should not have cut it off. Once a tree gets beyond its youth there should only be emergency removals of live branches.

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