Photo: Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Pruning guide · Broadleaf tree
Aspen: when and how to prune
Populus tremula
Aspen is best pruned in November–March.
| Pruning months | November–March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | March |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for butterflies and birds |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Aspen: when to prune it?
Dead, diseased and broken branches can be removed at any time of year. If you do need to prune, do 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
Aspen: how to prune it?
- Needs little pruning: just remove dead, broken and crossing branches.
- Keep root suckers in check by mowing them off or cutting them low.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: November–March.
- Grows best when left alone. Only remove dead, diseased or awkward branches.
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.
- Host plant: caterpillars of butterflies or moths eat the leaves.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
- 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.
- Pruning too much: it grows best when left alone.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Don’t chop into the roots or fell the tree to get rid of the suckers: that only makes even more of them come up.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Similar to: Difference from hybrid black poplar · Difference from grey poplar
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.