How to Trim a Young Aspen Tree

The two main varieties of aspen, Populus tremula and Populus tremuloides, cover most of the northern hemisphere, including North America, Europe and Asia. Aspens are usually found in groves, spreading by new shoots that grow from the roots of the parent tree. If the parent tree is cut down, new trees grow from the living roots. Gardeners prune a young aspen to shape its growth and remove unwanted or dead branches.

Anvil pruners
Loppers
Pole pruners

Instructions

- 1
  Prune your aspen tree in winter, after the leaves fall and the tree is dormant. Do not prune after the new leaves begin budding out in the spring.
- 2
  Remove multiple stems with pruners or loppers. Leave only one main stem to become the trunk of the tree.
- 3
  Remove branches that cross or are growing back toward the trunk. Cut branches off at the branch collar -- the swollen connection between branch and trunk. Use anvil or hand pruners for branches under 5/8 inch in diameter.
- 4
  Remove low-growing branches as the young tree grows. This encourages a higher crown and allows you to walk or drive under the aspen.
- 5
  Remove dead branches up to 2-1/2 inches in diameter with the loppers or pole pruners. Dead limbs may become infested with pests, weakening the entire tree.

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