Photo: Simon Eugster --– Simon / ?! 07:52, 20 October 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Green alder: when and how to prune
Alnus alnobetula
Green alder is best pruned in December–February.
| Pruning months | December–February |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Outside it |
| Flowering | April–May |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Green alder: when to prune it?
In winter, from December to February, outside the nesting season.
What else to prune in those months? January · February · December
Green alder: how to prune it?
- Little needed: remove dead and broken branches and thin out a dense shrub by sawing off a few old stems at the base.
- If it gets too big, coppice it completely every 5–10 years to 10–20 cm above the ground; it regrows vigorously.
- Coppice in stages, a few stems at a time, so there is always cover for birds.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: December–February.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- The pruning months fall outside the nesting season (15 March–15 August), so you won’t disturb nesting birds.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Green alder · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.