Can I hard prune a silver birch that has grown too tall?
Originally this tree was pendula but has been neglected. Would it be possible to reduce the height dramatically?
Answer
Dear Shirley: Since Silver Birch are heavy spring bleeders, it is best to prune the tree in very late fall or the winter to prevent spring bleeding. From the looks of your stated home town, I suspect you may live in the U.K. In the U.S. we would prune in the winter. You should check with a reliable tree surgeon in your area. Also, since you are "dramatically" pruning the tree, I would have a good tree surgeon do the work anyway so that the tree ends up properly shaped.