Pruning a Staghorn Sumac

[BuckyKat]

I have a tree which I'm told is a staghorn sumac, every year it grows taller but only puts out leaves at the top, any ideas how to prune it or make it grow bushier rather than taller....

[Robinia]

Beautiful shrubs aren't they?
They can be pruned hard - down to as low as 1ft, (but leave it a little taller if that seems too drastic for you), in late Feb/March depending on how cold your spring is. I'd wear gloves as the sap can be very irritant to the skin. Pull out any suckers it's made around the base.

[Thunderbird+]

I agree with Robinia on this, Pruning hard back at this time (when no frost is forcast) shoud result in a bushier shrub as it will sprout vigorously from the base.
Wearing gloves is good advice too, as some species are commonly known as poison oak/ivy in its native north America.

[BuckyKat]

Thanks for these responses, I have another question though....if I cut it down to a foot it will just be a stick in the mud...it kind of splits into two about at about a foot and the leaves are only at the top....abut another foot or so above that..sorry to keep asking but it was a present and I don't want to kill it :o)

[Robinia]

ah - do you mean it's still only small? If so there's no need to prune yet. It may grow to 12ft & as much across.
That's their habit I'm afraid, you will never get leaves the whole length of the stems.

It's hard to find a pic of the whole shrub but this might give you an idea
here

[BuckyKat]

Wow....thanks Robinia, I guess mine is only small after all :o), appreciate your help and yes...it is beautiful especially at the moment as its turning red,