How to prune a PERSIMMON

A detailed explanation of the decisions I decided to do with this tree. Not just how to prune but why to prune. The decisions you make are often directly associated with dealing with the mistakes of past tree workers. Did you know there are about 150 different cultivars of Persimmon? Did you know that the wood from persimmon is what was used for golf club heads?

[@FreeMark]

My great grandma had a big one in her backyard when I was a kid. She loved collecting them and cooking and eating the fruit. That's about all to the story but the video reminded me of her :)

[@riossfamilyrios9383]

Blair, I am a female and young certified arborist. I am enjoying and learning a lot of your videos. God Bless you always!

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

mirna rios lucy Leeburg has worked for me for 30 years. She is someone that you might enjoy talking to about female Arborists. 408 593-9926 if you want to pick her brain.

[@kengamble8595]

Yeah, persimmons, really do love the fruit, just reminds me of the first time I was introduced to them. Was very young and didn't know better and was talked into biteing a green one....... never will forget it! 😖 Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

One comment below is disappointed with my explanation because I didn’t show “EXACTLY” where to cut. That would be useless because every tree is different. You need to learn how to read the tree to understand what you need to do to your tree. Reading trees is the key to understanding why you do what you need to do.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

note that I cut it high enough so the top of the tree hit first absorbing some of the impact. Also keeping the cut a bit higher than the level of the bricks allowed the trunk to end up flat on the branches used to protect the bricks.

[@JonathanKnighton961]

Love the video as always Mr. Blair. One question and probably a idea for video would be Pruning Garden Vegetables. Tomato's, peppers, and Cucumbers are on my quest to learn how to grow them correctly. I have done a good bit of research on KZbin, but i would love see information/tricks/whatever come from you and your expertise! Thank you for your time on making the videos!

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Jonathan Knighton you may enjoy an older KZbin channel that I no longer add to called Thevegetablegardener

[@johngaron816]

OK. Advice well taken. Thanks

[@63256325N]

Decisions, decisions, what to do next? How do I fix *this* guys mistakes. Seems you run into that scenario a lot. Thanks for the videos, and nice job.

[@Alpha0125]

Other than stating one needs to read the tree, I did not get much as far as "how" to prune a Persimmon tree, which is what I trying to figure out.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Learning “how” to prune a tree starts with seeing the tree clearly. When I say “read the tree”, what I mean is look for defects, look for rubbing branches, look for branches that crowd or have no future. By seeing these areas to correct, you know how to prune. There is no roadmap, just decisions.

[@lucfournier3939]

Nice cut ..you gotta be happy😃!

[@werewasyo]

also i'm suprised pests did not get to most of the fruit. how was she able to harvest the high ones?

[@gabemalcolm4429]

Great work Sir!

[@theresa94010]

A late comer here. I understood you said that you do NOT recommend top cutting because more branches will grow from the cut. I thought that would be a good thing to do if I wanted more fruiting. Would you please clarify? TIA.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

For fruit tree training, yes, to a point to create more fruit. For larger trees, the new growth is often overwhelming and will often cause a future failure.

[@theresa94010]

@@arboristBlairGlenn - I see. Appreciate your reply,

[@samuelluria4744]

Blair - You know that I love and respect you greatly...and I have yet to disagree with you on any point in tree work, big or small.....but WHY, oh WHY did you have to tell me the bad news that "they" have fiddled with Persimmons, A HUNDRED AND FIFTY TIMES?!?!!😥😥😥😥 Why can't they just leave well enough alone???? 😥😥😥😥😥

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Samuel Luria all fruit equals income. Getting a patent on a specific cultivar insures the profits will be preserved.

[@samuelluria4744]

Blair - Yeah, I know....I'm just venting, Lol😂😂😂 You are an absolute anchor⚓ of tree love/wisdom in your state!!! Keep up the great work, and have a wonderful week!!!😉 (I just love Persimmons so much....and we only have rare/wild ones here in Jersey....so my "purist" feelings take over when I think about them...not big/sweet/plump fruits on ours in the woods here... around the size of golf balls.... ironically😂

[@Bereft777]

Nice fall!

[@Nhoj31neirbo47]

There are a number of Persimmons in my area that have mistakenly been planted between the sidewalk and the street. To make matters worse they have been ‘pruned’ to form multi-trunked shrubs. Every year they put out vigorous growth that interferes with pedestrians and car parking. Fruit trees should not be planted along streets and sidewalks for obvious reasons. With these persimmons I mentioned, the problems caused by poor choice of location could have been mitigated by limbing the plant up to create a tree form, thus directing all the growth up high and well out of the way. Luckily these plants don’t bear much fruit that would cause further lowering of the branches into people’s way. ~ Unfortunately the persimmon you worked on already appeared to be self-destructing. I’m sure your considered ministrations will reduce that tendency.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

John OBrien Gardener thanks for commenting John. How you enjoy my other videos.

[@jeffmicka6912]

Another nice job with the video. Had a question about whether the persimmon was Fuyu or Hachia? Also, correct me if I'm wrong but don't they bear on last year's wood? When pruning these fruit trees I always have the dilemma of trying to keep the tree at a harvestable size. Am always concerned that if I make re-leadering cuts that I'll compromise the next season's harvest. So, I toe the line between making thinning cuts and re-leadering cuts. This is of course in addition to dealing with the 4 D's. Any thoughts???

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Jeff Micka it was dormant so I don’t know.

[@adicurrant]

where os the pruning part ?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

adi currant listen to the explanation and learn why you make pruning decisions. Maybe I should change the title. If you watch closely, and see the finished tree shots, you will better understand.

[@adicurrant]

@@arboristBlairGlenn when you say "how to prune" you should show the process ... where are the fruiting buds, how mutch you cut off a branch and why ...

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

adi currant understanding WHY comes before the details.

[@adicurrant]

@@arboristBlairGlenn then rename the video from "how to prune ..." to "why prune ..."

[@gabemalcolm4429]

A true Master!

[@Fattiapples]

Would deadheading a persimmon kill it or produce more side branching? I have a really tall one from nursery and looks bit awkward .

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Dead heading roses I understand but not a persimmon.

[@lrosengreen]

Persimmon is in the same family (and genus) as ebony, the Ebenaceae. Is the wood any good for woodworking?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Yes, very hard, very white. Just rare to cut one down unless it dies, then it's rotting.

[@rcforrichard6245]

What happened to the pruned trees? You didn’t so the end results 😞

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

RC for Richard the last shots are all of the finish prune job. Watch it again closely.

[@nancystratton1645]

Did not get back to persimmon tree pruning as he stated, went on to other non fruit trees

[@werewasyo]

1000??? in one year? what usda zone is it in?

[@darkshadesvevo]

When's the best time to prune? 😊

[@arborist460]

That was like a half court buzzer beater....all that rock n brick i'da broke 1 at least...lol

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

arborist460 note that I cut it high enough so the top of the tree hit first absorbing some of the impact. Also keeping the cut a bit higher than the level of the bricks allowed the trunk to end up flat on the branches used to protect the bricks.

[@anhlu123]

didn't actually show any persimmon pruning at all!

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Really, you need to watch it again.

[@tonypatzhox4466]

What happened to the pruned trees? You just talk but never show it

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Tony Patzhox the video is about how to prune the tree with lots of examples that show you what And why. If you watch clearly, you will see what is being done.

[@trooperandcooperale3057]

If trees could really talk, this one would have sounded like Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw swapping stories over scares on the Orca

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Trooperandcooper Ale interesting analogy

[@yeshuaisthewaythetruthandt515]

I’m sorry but it looks more like how to cut a tree than how to prune?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Every tree has past problems that you need to involve a strategy. If this was a virgin tree that didn't have past mistakes, then the process would be different. Unfortunately, what we need to do to is based on the hand we get dealt.

[@johngaron816]

This video is useless to me. Why go into other trees instead of finishing the persimmon. I was hoping to see where, exactly, to cut branches. I thought the video was about persimmon trees and why go into adlers and crepe myrtles?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

John Garon John, if you watch my channel, you will understand that I explain the thought process of understanding the tree. If I prune the tree and you just watch, you won’t understand the reasons, the decisions. Explaining what happened in the past will lead you to understand why you are doing what you do. Saying this is useless makes me think you were not hearing what I was saying. Read the tree before you start cutting. Watch it again with an open mind. Look at the after pictures. The other species that I talk about are showing decisions about form and weaknesses.

[@RWBHere]

0:10 - Must go out and buy some bacon... 😉

[@JEEROFUKU]

Please, wear chainsaw chaps next time ;)

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Not everyone does things the way you may be mandated to do. I don't have anything against chaps except they are bulky and hot. Kind of like working with rain gear on. You would likely be worried of my tablesaw too.

[@ElectricityTaster]

As someone who works in a hot climate, chainsaw pants are the ultimate swamp ass. But I have way too much respect for chainsaws. The only safe solution I've come up with is to pace myself and hydrate so heat stress doesn't make me lose attention. I've even been looking at those katana boy saws for small removals just to avoid the chainsaw pants.

[@pauldurham2527]

JEEROFUKU ...I agree with you. The min or so that it took to cut that down could have turned into days and weeks of pain turning a money making day into a negative earning day... Love your videos Blair keep them coming safely.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Angry Beaver I don’t want my channel to end up being about the “safety police”. It’s easy to pick apart any tree operation but I try to avoid that direction. I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect, they are not perfect. I do what I’m comfortable with.

[@ElectricityTaster]

If it's hot, it might be safer to not wear chainsaw pants. This is actually what is being taught today in arb training. It depends on your own risk assessment. But Blair, you are a knowledgeable person and many of us look up to you. While you might have the ability to concentrate on what you're doing with the chainsaw and use common sense, some of us (your viewers) might not. Of course, our safety is our own responsibility, but maybe you could do a video on this topic so we can better understand your decisions regarding safety and why we might not want to do the same. Maybe you have some anecdotes about chainsaws deciding to end their vegan diets.

[@valentinaphung1835]

This video should be removed from KZbin, it did not show the actuality of pruning. Waste of time..

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Valentina Mendes if you actually paid attention you would learn the concept of why you make the cuts. Learning starts with understanding. If all I did was show you “cutting”, you would not know why you are doing what you are doing. Watch it again but keep an open mind.