Elm trees become particularly well-groomed and attractive by pruning them back. By regularly trimming your elm tree, you maintain constant control over its development and growth. But pruning is not always necessary. Find out here when it's worth cutting an elm, how to do it and when is the best time for the procedure.
When and how should you prune an elm tree?
Elm trees should be cut before budding, ideally in February and March. Cut branches that are too close, thin out the crown and, if necessary, shorten the tree to at least 3 m. Pay attention to cloudy, frost-free weather when cutting.
Is pruning necessary?
Basically, the elm is one of the easy-care deciduous trees that does not need to be cut. You should only use scissors in the following situations:
- to achieve a particularly narrow growth or to keep the elm at a certain height
- when branches or twigs turn brown to prevent the deciduous tree from completely dying
The elm also tolerates severe pruning. Please note, however, that the more you shorten the above-ground parts of the plant, the more root runners it will form.
The right time
In order to encourage new shoots and buds to form, you should cut your elm before it sprouts. Usually these are the months of February and March. This time also offers the advantage that the holes that are created quickly grow back and the elm quickly regains its well-groomed appearance. By the way, when injured, the elm produces a scent that attracts pests. In the winter between November and February, however, production is limited. The prerequisites for the cutting date are cloudy weather and a frost-free day.
Important steps when cutting the elm tree
- remove any branches that are too close together and will hinder their growth
- start thinning the crown and slowly work your way outward
- The elm tree can also tolerate severe pruning
- then shorten the tree to a maximum of 3 m. This is the minimum size if you do not want your elm to be damaged
- after you have planted your elm, pruning is not recommended. Give the tree about three years to get used to the new environment
