Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Trimming Alder

Hi Everyone

I have two Alder trees in large pots, I do realise I won't be able to contain them forever as they grow to be giants, however whilst I have them I wonder if anyone can give me advice on cutting the bottom branches off. They are about 9 feet tall at the moment and fairly dense at the bottom, I would like to cut off all of the bottom two feet or so branches level with the trunk basically so they don't hide the view of parts of my rather small garden so much. Is this possible, I don't want to harm the trees. Thank you in anticipation.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    The time to do it is after the leaves have fallen but before the sap rises in spring - certainly before the end of January.

    There is information here on how to cut branches back flush with the trunk so that you retain a good shape without damaging the tree. 

    http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?PID=233 

    I love alders - they're one of my favourite trees.


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





  • That's perfect, thank you very much. image

Sign In or Register to comment.