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Tree guide
Eight common trees in the Chilterns, what goes wrong with them and the best time to prune.
8
species covered
3
risk levels
12
months of advice
All species · sorted by how often we see them
Specimen
English oak
Quercus robur
Height
20 to 40 m
Growth
Medium
Prune in
Late winter
Watch for
Oak processionary moth, acute oak decline, root compaction
Risk
Medium
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Specimen
Beech
Fagus sylvatica
Height
25 to 35 m
Growth
Slow
Prune in
Late winter
Watch for
Root compaction, drought stress, fungal decay
Risk
Low
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Specimen
Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus
Height
25 to 35 m
Growth
Fast
Prune in
Late winter
Watch for
Sooty bark disease, heavy limbs, self-seeding
Risk
High
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Specimen
Ash
Fraxinus excelsior
Height
20 to 35 m
Growth
Fast
Prune in
Winter
Watch for
Ash dieback, brittle deadwood
Risk
High
Read the guide →
Specimen
Scots pine
Pinus sylvestris
Height
20 to 35 m
Growth
Fast
Prune in
Late summer
Watch for
Needle blight, wind throw, bark beetles
Risk
Medium
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Specimen
Horse chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum
Height
20 to 30 m
Growth
Medium
Prune in
Late winter
Watch for
Bleeding canker, leaf miner, heavy limbs
Risk
Medium
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Specimen
Leyland cypress
Cuprocyparis leylandii
Height
Up to 35 m
Growth
Slow
Prune in
Early summer
Watch for
Fast regrowth, browning, honey fungus
Risk
Low
Read the guide →
Specimen
Silver birch
Betula pendula
Height
15 to 25 m
Growth
Fast
Prune in
Late summer
Watch for
Birch polypore, drought stress, short lifespan
Risk
Medium
Read the guide →
02
Calendar
01
Winter
Best time to prune oaks, beech and most fruit trees. Most trees are dormant.
02
Spring
Check for winter storm damage before the leaves hide it.
03
Summer
Light thinning only. Watch for wilting leaves, a sign of disease.
04
Autumn
Plant new trees, mulch the root zone and book winter work early.
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