Photo: Elbert L. Little, Jr., U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and others, Public domain · source
Pruning guide · Tree
White fir: when and how to prune
Abies concolor
White fir is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
White fir: when to prune it?
Pruning is hardly needed: it forms a fine cone on its own. If something does need doing, do it in March, before the new shoots break.
What else to prune in those months? March
White fir: how to prune it?
- If it forms two leaders, cut out the weaker one at its base.
- Remove dead or broken branches back to the trunk, just outside the branch collar.
- Never cut back into bare, old wood: a fir will not regrow from there.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
- Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in March can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Never cut off the leading shoot: the tree will develop a crooked, flat crown and recover only slowly. Lower branches you remove will not grow back.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.