- 1). Prune birch trees in late winter to early spring when the trees are dormant. Never prune during the summer season, as that puts the trees in danger of pest invasion.
- 2). Don gloves to protect your hands and set out a plan. Cut away only 15 percent of each tree's foliage to avoid shock. Cut with air and sun exposure in mind -- more air and sun at the center of the tree means better and healthier growth.
- 3). Cut out dead, diseased and broken wood first. This wood saps tree energy and may spread disease to healthy wood. Cut back to healthy green or white wood to encourage new growth.
- 4). Cut any limbs growing across other branches as well as limbs growing at unnatural or very close angles. Cut suckers off at the roots. Make all foliage cuts 2 inches above the joining branch to allow room for healing.
- 5). Remove some branches, twigs and shoots in the foliage to open the tree up to better sun and air. Make these cuts 1 to 2 inches above the joining wood. Use this pruning to do additional shaping and training.
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