By Hunnybunny
United Kingdom 
Hi I have 2 trees one LIME GREEN and ONE RED that did not leaf last year(I think I cut them back wrong) but this year they have burst back into there former glory but only from the bases and I am left with all bare branches at the top. Can I cut the top of these off without causing anymore damage? or do I have to wait and do something else.HELP
25 Oct, 2013
Answers
I cant see properly either. I have red and yellow hazel trees that look similar, but not sure.
25 Oct, 2013
Thankyou to the people that responded to my plea.
26 Oct, 2013
Bamboo, I think you've got them both right, cotinus ('Golden Spirit' and probably 'Royal Purple' or 'Grace'). Anything dead can be cut away. Best rid of the dead to prevent decay and possible fungal attack on living wood, which can happen.
26 Oct, 2013
Also, think about thinning out the vigorous new shoots to leave a good shape, with each having room around it to develop.
26 Oct, 2013
thank you for this much needed advice.
26 Oct, 2013
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Need a bit of confirmation before giving a decent answer. The second picture (the yellow leaved one) looks like the yellow form of Cotinus coggrygia, but I can't really tell if the top one (the reddish purple leaved one) has the same leaves or not. If it does, then that might be Cotinus Royal Purple, and if they are both Cotinus, you can cut down the trunks to where the new growth is coming from. If they are not Cotinus (google for pics to check) and were actual trees rather than large shrubs, then the answer given will be somewhat different.
25 Oct, 2013