Silver Birch

Hi,

Some Silver Birches nearby, about 7+ years old and basically planted in the wrong place, are now starting to catch the overhead telephone wires and the owner is talking about cutting them back but to about just 5ft high.

Would the remaining stumps do anything, if they even survive as believe Birches can be badly affected by major cutting?

 

Hi

they do grow after hard pruning but during the winter with no leaves on they just look ugly . Some by me cut back I would of been better to take them out

 

I think hard cutting back tends to kill them, I cut one back some time ago and it died.
If they dont die they will probably look ugly.

 

I took one down to ground level - it has since recovered and is now thriving as a multistem hedge - I trim it down to about 6' two or three times a year.

 

Cutting right down seems to be the sensible thing since leaving it alone isn't an option. They might find it sprouts again or they get suckers coming up around the trunk. But 5ft would just look silly.