{"id":9402,"date":"2021-09-01T07:49:26","date_gmt":"2021-09-01T07:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9402"},"modified":"2021-09-04T10:56:39","modified_gmt":"2021-09-04T10:56:39","slug":"how-to-trim-a-birch-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-to-trim-a-birch-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Trim A Birch Tree?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Birch trees are beautiful and often used for landscaping<\/a>. How can you make sure your birch stays looking its best? Read on to learn more about how to trim a birch tree and what time of year is best for pruning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I Prune a Birch Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Like any other tree, birch trees can be pruned. In fact, sometimes it\u2019s even best for their health to cut away dead, diseased, or improperly growing branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, you have to be very careful when pruning birch trees. They are very sensitive trees, and trimming away too much or doing it wrong can cause more harm than good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When pruning birch trees, only trim away dead, diseased, or damaged branches.<\/strong> Make note of the branches that need to go, then trim them away during the late spring through early fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not perform routine trimming during the tree\u2019s dormant season because this may cause it to leak sap. Even if the tree isn\u2019t actively sapping on the day you trim, sap may begin to flow before the pruning wounds have healed, causing the tree to leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If at all possible, avoid pruning a birch tree during the few weeks when sap is flowing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the tree sustains a broken branch that is posing some hazard to your home, pets, or family, then it needs to be removed immediately even during sap season. Just keep in mind that you will need to water the tree daily for the next few weeks to make up for sap loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I Reduce the Height of a Birch Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many homeowners plant birch trees for aesthetic purposes, not realizing how large the trees can get. If you have a birch tree that\u2019s outgrowing its location, you may be wondering if it\u2019s okay to cut away the top growth, making the tree shorter and perhaps less dense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This practice is called topping. While it is technically possible to top a birch tree, doing so isn\u2019t the best idea.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Topping a tree both weakens it and stunts its growth. What\u2019s more, cutting away large sections of the tree will produce large, open wounds in the main branches, leaving the tree open to rot and pests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from being hard on the tree, topping simply looks ugly. It makes the tree look \u201cbald\u201d at first, and the new growth will come in at odd angles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, after a few years, the new branches, growing straight up, will make the tree nearly as tall as it was before topping. Repeated toppings to try to keep a tree at a certain height may kill it over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To avoid having to reduce your tree\u2019s height, plan ahead before planting it. Know how large the tree may get and plant it in a spot where it won\u2019t outgrow its bounds. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might also try planting two or three birch trees together, as they will have to compete for soil resources and may limit each other\u2019s growth naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If an existing tree is too large, it\u2019s better to simply remove the tree than to top it or attempt to reduce its height.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Shape a Birch Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most birch tree species tend to shape themselves. They are very shapely trees to begin with, often producing a conical or triangular canopy without any help from a pruning saw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to give your birch a different shape than the one it develops naturally, it\u2019s best to do so when it\u2019s young, and to remove as few branches as possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before doing any kind of pruning on your birch trees, it\u2019s a good idea to watch a good tutorial video first. The one below is a great place to start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=W9ZjIkBwTCw<\/a>