Photo: Petr Filippov, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Broadleaf tree
Caucasian lime: when and how to prune
Tilia × euchlora
Caucasian lime is best pruned in November–March.
| Pruning months | November–March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | July |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Caucasian lime: when to prune it?
During winter dormancy (November–March).
Prune while dormant, from November to March, but not in freezing weather.
What else to prune in those months? January · February · March · November · December
Caucasian lime: how to prune it?
- Little pruning needed. The lower branches droop: crown-lift a street tree gradually.
- Train a young tree on a single leader and remove crossing or competing branches.
- Cut branches just outside the branch collar, never flush with the trunk.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: November–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: Don’t crown-lift too much at once: remove only one or two branches at a time, or the tree is weakened and puts out water shoots.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Similar to: Difference from common lime · Difference from small-leaved lime
Plant profile: Caucasian lime · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.