Off hand, if they are rubbing or will interfere with each other you should prune them out.

Post a pic and you may get more specific advice.

need a picture .. check out the link

we need such.. to define what you are talking about..

multiple trunks??

low hanging branches????

'stems' is not the right term ... we dont know what you mean

we'll get you where you want to go .. once we figure it out

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

OK, guys, I'll ask your opinion. Leave the lower branches and allow them to fall off naturally as the tree ages, or remove them. My clump river birch is probably 15 feet tall now, but it has every last branch right down to the soil line, all healthy.

I just can't decide if it would look better pruned up a bit higher. I know it would be easier to maintain around it. But, that first cut is permanent, so I don't want to do something I'll regret later. You can cut them off, but you can't put them back on afterwards!

Opinions, please. TIA.

Here are the pictures. There are two trees with a full picture and a base picture for each.
{{gwi:402185}}From River Birch
{{gwi:402186}}From River Birch
{{gwi:402187}}From River Birch
{{gwi:402188}}From River Birch

What, if anything, do you think I should do?

Thanks for looking.

Also, by stem I mean trunk. Sorry. The River Birches I've seen and like have 3 trunks.

Personally I think its all subjective with the exception of the trunks that are less vigorous or are compressed/rubbing against other trunks...remove those.

TIA, once my River birches branched out beyond the mulch bed I trimmed them up so they weren't hitting me in the head. Only reason to keep them full to the ground is if you need privacy...otherwise show off the bark while its in its prime.

"The River Birches I've seen and like have 3 trunks."

I agree with you, and, if yours were mine, I'd reduce them to three trunks and clean up the lower trunk area as Whaas mentioned, so that the lower portion of the trunks could be better seen. Denninmi makes a good point, that it's best to choose what you prune carefully (especially when choosing which trunks to keep), but removing them now will be easier than removing them later and should improve their visual appeal (at least in our opinions).

Thanks for the replies. Is there a preferred time of year to prune?

Yes there is, and for Betula nigra this time of year (late spring/early summer) is ideal. There was another thread, recently, about all the pros and cons of different times for pruning this species. Borers aren't generally an issue with this species, but bleeding can be. Pruning in late spring to early summer (as in now) minimizes bleeding and allows some time for the tree to block off pruning wounds before winter. If pruned in late summer or fall, they often don't have time to heal over before sap rise in spring, and new growth doesn't have a chance to harden off. Major pruning in winter and early spring (before and during sap rise) can really be a problem.

Ok. I've seen many conflicting pieces of advice on when to prune. Many say that late summer and early fall are the best. I think I'll do it now.

Thanks for your advice.

i cant tell if its planted too deep.. or if the mulch is too high ....

you need to clear the excess out of there.. and then really find out where all the trunks are coming from ...

i like the circle bed.. but there should be 6 inches of bare soil at the trunk ....

once you do this.. you will have a clearer idea of which are to stay.. and which are to be removed..

afterwards .... you will also be better able to snip off extras when they are tiny ....

good luck

ken

I've seen many conflicting pieces of advice on when to prune. Many say that late summer and early fall are the best. I think I'll do it now.

Most nurseries and arborists (in my area) say that right now would be one of the worst times. B. nigra is resistant to borers but from what I am told the borers would still be attracted to the wounds. All these sources seem to swear by pruning late fall or late winter.

"All these sources seem to swear by pruning late fall or late winter."

I find the advice differs significantly with expertise/reputation of the source. I've even seen advice to prune Betula nigra in early spring (bad advice from poor sources). Multiple sources report significant bleeding issues (almost as bad as early spring pruning) with late fall to late winter pruning. And, if you think about it, that really makes sense, logically. I have seen few reports (MUCH FEWER than the late fall-winter reports) of problems with late spring/early summer pruning. The anecdotal and testimonial evidence, I have seen, also point strongly toward the late spring/early summer pruning regimen.

I will repeat my example text from the last thread:
"While most other trees would be pruned in early spring, birches...should only be pruned in late spring (or early summer) after the leaves have reached full size. A tree that is pruned before the leaves have developed will bleed sap depleting the tree of moisture and sugar. Late summer (through winter) pruning is also discouraged because, although there will be no bleeding immediately following pruning, the non- healed cuts will begin to bleed as soon as sap begins to flow in spring."

PS...
Whaas, if you know of studies that show any increase in susceptibility of Betula nigra, with fresh pruning wounds, to borers, I'd be interested to see/read the studies. I have a feeling that the concern, on the part of some nurseries etc, is an over-extrapolation from studies of Betula species that are much more attractive to the little varmints.

Ok, just called UW-Ext. They state the same as you've found regarding the optimal time...bascially after the leaves are fully developed.

They said right now isn't a good time due to heat stress. The next optimal time would be early September. They will heal the wounds prior to sap flow.

No study, just what I was told by (not sure if I should name them)a very well known and respected tree arborist company in SE WI. It was just one arborist.

UW-Ext didn't say (agree) that the open wounds attract the borers. Althought they said the heat/drought stress could.