Question
Hello again, it has been awhile. I have searched far and wide but can not come up with much on the internet in the way of my tree which was named "Brown Velvet" a cross between Brackenz Brown Beauty and The Infamous "Edith Bogue" so I am taking it is pretty much like a Edith. Well I planted the edith B. late last summer and took a chance. It was about 12 foot tall. Since this summer it grew about 2 feet on the tops. Where it grew it does not seem to be actual wood yet, will this brown fuzzy tall growth (holding leaves) become wood? I am worried that if the growing season is not long enough this will not mature into wood and get frost bitten in Philadelphia pa this winter although last winter, the tree did just fine.

The only problem as it looks as healthy as ever right now is that the flower buds eventually fell off last fall and orange seeds came protruding out of them (kind of neat)but this year no buds grew like this and no flowers? Could it be from the stress of replanting or do the buds come up soon meaning late summer? Should I be worried? The tree looks as healthy as ever if you ask me minus the bud growth/flowers. The tree is now about 15 foot tall!
Also, I would like to cut some lower branches off of it as it is a street tree and I want allot of trunk before you can reach the top branches. When is the best time to do so?



Thanks in advance,
               Stephen  

Answer
Sounds like every thing is fine. When trees are moved they usually will not flower the first year due to the shock of moving. When the flower mature and if they are pollinated a cone forms and the red seeds will be in the cone liker structure. This is normal. As the tree grows the green stems will mature and turn brown and harden again normal. The lower limbs can be pruned but I would wait until the late Fall after the hardwood trees have dropped their leaves. Then cut the branch to about 1/4 inch from the main trunk. There is a slight swelling where the branch connects to the trunk this is called a branch collar and should be left. That way the wound will heal faster. Do not put any wound dressing on the cuts the dressing will slow the healing process.