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When should I crown my trees?

sharanshrubssharanshrubs Posts: 74
in Problem solving
Hi, I'm a novice and have the following trees that need crowning (by specialist tree surgeon of course :smile:
Pinus
Bay willow /Salix pentandra
Silver birch
Beech

Would I keep my trees happy if I got the work done in the next couple of weeks or is it best to wait until perhaps February or March next year?

Any advice greatly appreciated.
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Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    I, and perhaps others, would like to see a pic, or at least dimensions.  And your reasons for wanting to do this.  If a tree must be pruned to keep it to size and shape, then it will probably need this regularly.  If left it will need expensive felling at end-of-life.

    Biting the bullet now and replanting with small-growing trees would save you a mint long term. 

    Do you have a wood burner?
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I do know that silver birch should only be cut back when it is dormant. It is very important NOT to prune in spring as sap rises. Wood burners are very much in the news ar present as a good way to keep warm. I would add that one near to me pollutes the air for hours last year it was so bad had to go indoors. Can that be right? Does it depend on type of wood?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    As you say you will be using a qualified tree surgeon, I would suggest you discuss the requirements and time scale with whoever you choose to carry out the work.    A qualified person will visit and see exactly what needs doing -  you expect to pay for their advice as well as the physical work involved.
    A much safer bet for both you and your trees  :)  
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Prepare for the Silver Birch and the Pine to lose their natural shape and be unattractive to the eye


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Why do you think they need crowning? As @nutcutlet says, it is very easy to ruin the shape of a tree by doing this.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    A good tree surgeon will give good advice so make sure you choose one who has a qualification from a horticultural college or similar.  Make sure they also have insurance.  When you say crowning, do you mean topping them out or lifting the crown to bare the lower trunk and allow light, rain and air below to ther plants?

    As stated above, trees are best pruned when dormant so that sap flow is at a minimum. Birch, especially, can bleed to death if done in late winter or spring.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    As a rule of thumb, ideally before Xmas. Sap starts to rise in Jan/Feb. Make sure you know exactly what you want doing when you discuss with the tree surgeon. 
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    The silver birch will need to be done, if it needs to be done, in the next couple of months ideally for the reasons mentioned above.

    Burning greenwood is worse than kiln dried wood and there was a piece on the BBC recently that said burning wood released more co2 than burning coal.
  • sharanshrubssharanshrubs Posts: 74
    Thanks for your advice so far!

    Photos below. 

    Photo 1: Pine tree is our neighbours. He is elderly and cannot arrange or afford for it to be crowned so is happy for us to get it done. It is huge and blocking sunlight for our veg patches (one can be seen in photo one cannot be seen - it is parallel to it to the left). Plan to take off the top and sides to maintain shape and screening best we can.

    Photo 2:
    Bay willow, Cherry Prunus and Silver Birch have all been planted too close together by previous owners. We have had them crowned previously to maintain a suitable size.
    Decided that Prunus needs to be removed to allow Bay Willow and Silver Birch to grow more happily. Only planning to get a little cut off the top of Bay Willow & SilverB.

    Photo 3:
    Beech has been crowned before. Rainwater from branches is going through to our shed and tree has become very large so were going to take it back to previous 'crowned' size.

    Had 6 tree surgeons over so far all with excellent internet reviews from mixed sources. None wanted to advise on the best time to crown, just to book us in asap  ;)









  • sharanshrubssharanshrubs Posts: 74
    I know Pine will not look great. 
    Silver birch we may not even touch once Prunus is out.
    Im a novice but really wish lovely others would consider eventual height and spread of trees before purchasing!! 
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