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Pruning Advice - White Birch Tree

alastair_19alastair_19 Posts: 35
in Problem solving
Hi, I will be planting these two white birch trees soon and was
wondering how best to prune to encourage branching? Should I snip the leader or will that affect the natural uniformity of the tree? 
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Posts

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited November 2023
    One of my favourite trees.
    Could you please post what is on the labels?
    What kind they are and how or where you are planting  may have a bearing on what you might do with lower branches if a clearer trunk is needed.
    But I would not cut off any leaders.

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Don't remove the leader, as the tree gets established it will start to develop a fuller shape.  I would probably remove the lowest branch on the tree in the left of your photos though as it looks as if it might spoil the eventual shape of the tree.  The important thing is to get them planted in the right place with soil well prepared and watch their progress during their first growing season next year.  I often remove lower branches on young trees as they develop as it enables more light to reach the border below and increase the scope for underplanting, but not too close to the root area! 
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • alastair_19alastair_19 Posts: 35
    @Rubytoo I have uploaded the labels. Tree on left 1st
  • alastair_19alastair_19 Posts: 35

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Both those varieties are lovely but they have both been cultivated as single stem trees.  Cutting the leader will ruin their gracefull shape. Suppliers often provide multi-stemmed versions of these varieties but these are ideally created when the trees are younger.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    That is great, two different ones so you will get the right advice for each one if it is that different.
    Good luck, I hope they grow well for you.
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @alistair_19

    I've got 3 of these, planted about 15 years ago. They are lovely trees but will get big so give them plenty of room.

    No need to prune other then take any small branches off low down to get a clear trunk.

    They are both the same tree @Rubytoo ... see below.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/386980/betula-utilis-subsp-jacquemontii-doorenbos/details

    Good luck with them,
    Bee x


    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    They are slightly different @Bee witched. Betula utilis Jacquemontii Doorenbos is a specific cultivar that has creamier bark when it peels and turns ever whiter as time progresses. Its parent, Betula Utilis Jacquemontii , also has a white bark but peels white not cream. I did some research when I was looking for a tree for my front garden and decided that the garden wasn't big enough!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • alastair_19alastair_19 Posts: 35
    What would be the best way to stake these?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    This video will show you … 
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/staking-a-tree/ 
    😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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