Paper birch: when and how to prune

Paper birch: when to prune it?

JFMAMJJASOND

Only in summer or autumn, from July to October. In late winter and spring a birch bleeds heavily.

What else to prune in those months? July · August · September · October

Paper birch: how to prune it?

1. Prune little: remove only dead, damaged and crossing branches.
2. Remove the lowest branches gradually if you want to see more of the white trunk.
3. Cut back to a side branch or just outside the branch collar on the trunk; do not leave stubs.
4. Never top a birch: it recovers badly and loses its shape.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: July–October.
• 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 July–August 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.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Downy birch
• Himalayan birch
• River birch
• Silver birch
• Yellow birch
• Dwarf birch

Plant profile: Paper birch · Pruning calendar and basic rules