Young Banyan Tree hurricane damage need advice

[Randy Miner]

Hello and thank you in advance for any advice. I have a young Banyan Tree that was damaged by Hurricane Mathew. It is about 10 feet tall. It has lost about 60% of its foliage. It is now very unbalanced looking. I don't know if I should prune the remaining back so that it is more balanced or if I should wait till next season, etc.

I will try to post some photos in a response to this post shortly. The foliage that remains is on the southern side of the tree.

 

[Randy Miner]

[album=medium]1727[/album]
I created an album with four photos of the tree from different angles.

 

[BC WetCoast]

I wouldn't prune it now. The remaining leaves are producing the sugars and carbohydates the tree needs to grow, produce new growth and tolerate the stress it has been under. Pruning it now would reduce the amount of food produced adding stress to the tree.

In looking at the photos, the only way to balance the foliage is to turn it into a stick.