The tipu tree (Tipuana tipu), also called Brazilian rosewood, is an evergreen shade tree native to Bolivia that yields small, apricot-yellow blossoms. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, although it might freeze in the coldest winters of zone 9. The tree has rough bark and grows up to 50 feet tall, producing a spreading, flat canopy. Prune the lower branches high on the trunk to shape the canopy into the form of an inverted vase or umbrella shape. Prune the tipu in late winter when it is dormant and loses some or most of its leaves.
Pruning Drooping Branches.
Determine whether you want a tipu branch to grow up, down or sideways.
Trace the tip of the branch to the point where it intersects with a side shoot or branch that grows in the direction you want.
Prune the branch close to the shoot or branch that you want to continue growing. Use a pruning lopper on small branches and a pruning saw or chain saw on larger branches.
Pruning Large Branches
Cut the bottom of a large branch that is more than 1 1/2 inch in diameter about 6 to 12 inches from the trunk and roughly one-third of the way through the branch.
Cut the top of the branch 3 inches farther from the bottom cut until the branch drops.
Cut the stub back to the collar of the branch, which is the place where it grows from the trunk. Leave only a swollen area flush to the trunk. If you leave a stub, it may rot into the trunk of the tree.
Things You Will Need
- Pruning saw
- Pruning lopper
- Prune branches that produce little foliage. Prune dead, diseased or broken branches any time of year. Remove branches that touch other limbs. Do not cover a cut with a commercial wound preparation commonly called pruning paint. Researchers have found that pruning paints are useful for cosmetics only. The wound will heal more quickly on its own.
- Do not prune a tipu limb in a place where there is no branch. If you do, multiple shoots will grow from the wound. Do not prune more than 25 percent of the foliage on a young tipu. This can stress the tree, making it vulnerable to diseases and pests. Removing too many leaves can also cause the sun to burn tender young bark.