View Messages

Return to Trees & Shrubs

river birch

[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]
From: jan huseman City: columbia, IL
We have a river birch which is 35+ feet tall is near the front of our home so we would like to trim the tree. We would like to have a large branch (25 ft) of the tree removed leaving only 2 other large branches. Is this possible without harming the tree? I so when is the best time to trim the branch?
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
Dear Jan: I suggest you wait till early next spring before you remove such a large limb. I am guessing it would be removed at the base of the tree and that would expose the crown to a lot of freezinig weather if removed in the fall. You can expect to see some of the interior branching on the two branches left to be thin looking as they have been shaded by the one you will be removing. That will fill in in a few years to look more normal. Sincerely, Richard
[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]