Question
How do you prune cypresses to get the rounded effect as in France and on the Italian lakes?
I want to shorten my cypresses but don't know the best way as they are no longer young and I fear to control them I should have started earlier.
But still curious about how to get the rounded look.

Answer
Hello Elizabeth

Curiously, pruning the tips of cypress trees is actually quite simple and is not bad for the plant's growth. They actually use the system of cutting the tops off cypresses to stimulate root growth here in Italy.

Therfore, one can cut the top off of a cypress tree up to about 1 third of the total height and the tree will simply strengthen its root system and start growing harder. Clearly you will have to repeat the operation throughout the year to maintain the desired effect.

This task should take place in early spring and the plant should be fed and mulched during its recovery.

Hope that was useful and thanks for any bonus points in advance.

read more on cypress trees www.ecologicagardens.com

Jonathan Radford