How to Prune Clump Birches

River birches are often called clump birch because they grow a clump of trunks at the base of the tree that lean outward. These birch trees have hard, strong and knotty wood with cinnamon colored bark. The birch grows in low-lying moist areas such as near riverbeds. River birch has two cultivars: Cully and Heritage. You can prune river birch to remove dead, damaged, diseased or insect infested branches as well as maintain the appearance and safety of the tree by trimming low-hanging branches. Prune river birch in the summer because they will bleed if pruned in the spring.

Branch cutters

Instructions

- 1
  Look over the tree in need of pruning. Identify any broken, dead, diseased, damaged or insect-infested branches. Cut these branches back to the nearest main branch or trunk that is in healthy condition at a downward 45-degree angle close to the branch or trunk using branch cutters.
- 2
  Prune suckers or other small shoots at the base of the tree close to the ground using branch cutters. The clumping nature of these trees will produce growth at the bottom that should be cut back to prevent overgrowth at the base of the tree.
- 3
  Trim any low-hanging branches, long branches or branches that cross over other branches on the tree using branch cutters. Cut the branches back to the nearest branch or trunk that will produce a desirable appearance and safe passage underneath the tree. Make the cut at a 45-degree downward angle to encourage water to drip downward from the cut surface.

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