Not sure about the tree type, but getting multiple stems is easy. All you do is to take out the leader (the stem which becomes the main trunk if left) when the tree is a sapling. Side shoots then grow and the best ones are left to grow on and any others are pruned out back to the stump.
Ah I see that sounds easy enough. I have a birch that's still young, about 1.5 meters tall and it's a few years old. Can I do it with this? Or is it a bit too late? The trunk is about 1.5 inch diameter.
Silver Birch? This page from the RHS gives info down the page about how and when to prune. Hope this helps. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/birch/winter-interest You can read the whole lot but the "Jump to" list on pruning and training takes you directly to that section.
Take note of the "timing" of when to do the pruning it is very important. But looks like you are heading for the right time soon, with winter coming.
Good Luck. I always wanted a silver birch or two multi stemmed, but we have too many big trees already, we cannot and would not want to remove.
When is a tree not a tree? When it's a large woody shrub. One definition of a shrub is that it's multi stemmed, but the lines get more blurred when you have multistemmed trees, not easy. I am not sure what that is in the picture but it looks shrub like to me. Someone on here will know. As for your silver birch a good approach might be to have a short, single stem with your multiple stems coming off that.
The younger the tree to multi-stem the better. Not sure if I would do it to a tree with a 1.5 cm stem already. If you do decide to give it a try, then cut the stem down about 12cm or so from its point of origin. OR, just remove the top few inches and have a multi stem type on a stalk.
The younger the tree to multi-stem the better. Not sure if I would do it to a tree with a 1.5 cm stem already. If you do decide to give it a try, then cut the stem down about 12cm or so from its point of origin. OR, just remove the top few inches and have a multi stem type on a stalk.
The RHS link I provided says 1 metre and I think also the younger the better too
To create a multi-stemmed birch:
Choose a young plant (less than 1m/3¼ft tall) and cut back either
close to ground level (but not less than 8cm or 3in), or to about
30-60cm (1-2ft) from the ground
But I think if that is what you really want you have nothing to lose giving it a try with your one. It is only a little bit too tall. Worse case if it goes wrong you can get a new one? I know I sound awful and wasteful. If it goes wrong you can blame me for ignoring Palustris advice
@Rubytoo Yes I suppose your right it is only a little bit bigger so I may as well try! It's gonna take many years to become a big tree anyway so it's not like I've wasted time with it
Thanks for all the other replies. I'm going to give it a go. I would actually prefer a smaller multi stem tree rather than a tall one with one trunk because my garden is a narrow and long so I don't want something too big that will shade the borders too much. I actually like the look of the multi stems too among the othe plants it looks quite cool
And remember that buying a decent multi-stemmed tree could set you back a large amount of money. The Silver Birch I did it with years ago ended up a lovely specimen valued at £300 to replace.
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This page from the RHS gives info down the page about how and when to prune. Hope this helps.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/birch/winter-interest
You can read the whole lot but the "Jump to" list on pruning and training takes you directly to that section.
Take note of the "timing" of when to do the pruning it is very important. But looks like you are heading for the right time soon, with winter coming.
Good Luck. I always wanted a silver birch or two multi stemmed, but we have too many big trees already, we cannot and would not want to remove.
I am not sure what that is in the picture but it looks shrub like to me. Someone on here will know.
As for your silver birch a good approach might be to have a short, single stem with your multiple stems coming off that.
To create a multi-stemmed birch:
- Choose a young plant (less than 1m/3¼ft tall) and cut back either
close to ground level (but not less than 8cm or 3in), or to about
30-60cm (1-2ft) from the ground
But I think if that is what you really want you have nothing to lose giving it a try with your one. It is only a little bit too tall.Worse case if it goes wrong you can get a new one?
I know I sound awful and wasteful. If it goes wrong you can blame me for ignoring Palustris advice
Measure it again it might be short enough
Thanks for all the other replies. I'm going to give it a go. I would actually prefer a smaller multi stem tree rather than a tall one with one trunk because my garden is a narrow and long so I don't want something too big that will shade the borders too much. I actually like the look of the multi stems too among the othe plants it looks quite cool