Birch tree
It’s an elegant deciduous tree that graces many landscapes with its slender trunk, graceful branches, and delicate leaves. Primarily, this tree belongs to the Betulaceae family. It is famous for its smooth, silvery bark that peels off in thin, papery layers, revealing patches of creamy white or reddish-brown underneath.
Birch trees have great prominence and are close to our culture. Their appearance in early spring, with fresh green leaves unfurling, symbolizes the rejuvenation and renewal of nature. They have been planted in landscape spaces for centuries, and their wood is used for various purposes, such as crafting furniture, making paper, or even building canoes.
Reasons why is pruning birch trees necessary?
The following are the common reasons that lead to the pruning of trees in various situations.
Dead Branches
These trees often over-grow mostly dead branches and are considered unnecessary, becoming a hurdle in their development process. Therefore, removing those branches is essential for a tree’s health. The dead limbs can become a safety hazard and infect the rest of the tree.
Safety Issues
Birch trees can cause If a birch tree poses a safety risk due to its location, such as proximity to power lines, buildings, or walkways, pruning or cutting may be necessary to mitigate potential hazards.
Structural Integrity
In most cases, these trees develop structural issues, such as weak & damaged branches, multiple trunks, and imbalanced growth. This mainly happens when the arborist doesn’t provide adequate treatments and keep up with its maintenance. Resultantly, it starts causing stability issues and ruins its aesthetics as well. Only trimming can help improve the overall structure and initiate the rejuvenation process.
Encouraging New Growth
Most landscapers complain their trees are not developing adequately and gradually becoming dull. The primary reason is the trees accumulate dead leaves and branches that stop new growth. Whereas pruning stimulates development in birch trees, especially when removing unproductive branches. This ensures a healthy rejuvenation and promotes a healthier, fuller canopy.
It’s worth noting that pruning should be done carefully and with knowledge of proper techniques to avoid harming the tree. One must preferably consult a professional arborist for guidance and assistance on how to prune birch trees.
When should you prune birch trees?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions by Arborists about the perfect time to start pruning trees and enhancing the aesthetics and tree’s health. So, ideally, they should be pruned during early winter when they are dormant. It’s a recommended time to minimize stress and reduce the risk of pests infesting fresh pruning cuts.
Factors to consider when pruning the birch tree.
When you know the perfect timing to prune birch trees, you should also be familiar with some factors that play a vital role in this process.
Timing: You should be mindful of pruning birch trees during the dormant season, often in late fall or early winter when the tree has dropped its leaves. Research online or accompany a professional to figure out the current health status of trees. Avoid pruning during spring or summer when the tree is actively growing, since this can lead to excessive sap bleeding and increased chances of infestation.
Tree Age: Tree age also matters. You can’t begin to trim the tree without knowing its age. Before planning the trimming, try to get all the necessary information about their age and family. Since the younger trees require less pruning, older & diseased ones need more attention.
Instructions for an amateur Arborist to trim the birch tree.
Here is a step-by-step guide for an amateur on how to prune a birch tree with proper support to derive promising results.
Before you start pruning, be prepared and gather the required tools close to you, such as pruning shears, lopping shears, and a pruning saw, and for your safety, wear protective gloves and goggles to avoid any potential harm after getting ready with all the tools you.
Now, examine the birch tree to identify diseased & crossing branches that need to be removed. Take your time and spot all areas. As soon as you determine the sites, that is what makes the shape and structure of the tree look bad.
Let’s begin by cutting the spotted limbs. To do so, put some clean cuts only outside the collar, the swollen area where the branch meets the parent branch. Then, cut at a 45-degree angle, slanting away from the bud.
Check out the limbs that rub against each other since they interfere with the tree’s growth. Look at the whole tree and carefully remove one of the branches to alleviate the issue and maintain proper spacing.
Later on, check for excessive growth on the tree; then, thinning may be necessary. Selectively separate some interior limbs to improve light penetration and airflow. You should aim to maintain the tree’s natural shape and avoid pruning more than 20% of the canopy in a single session.
Let’s talk about the tree’s height and its balance. Examine the area rigorously. If you notice any imbalances on one side, prune it to achieve a more symmetrical appearance.
Now, take a break after pruning and assess the tree from different angles. Ensure that there is any room for improvement. If everything is okay, then you are good to go.
After performing the session, clean the surrounding area and dispose of the diseased parts of the tree. Don’t take off your gloves until everything is done. The gloves save your hands to prevent any type of infection from prevailing.
Conclusion
Remember, these instructions are shared mainly for amateur arborists who are learning and want to improve the aesthetics of their landscapes. By following the complete process and instructions, they can successfully accomplish the pruning session.
