How to prune tilia cordata

Late winter to early spring (before bud-break) for formative/pollard work; deadwood any time. For natural tree form, remove dead or crossing branches at the collar. For pleached or pollarded forms, cut back all new growth to the framework of knuckles each late winter using loppers or a pruning saw; feed afterwards to support regrowth.

Annually (formal/pleached); every 2–3 years (natural form). Tilia cordata (small-leaved lime) is very tolerant of pruning and widely used for pleaching, pollarding, and avenue training. For a natural tree, minimal pruning is needed beyond removing deadwood and crossing branches. For formal shapes, clip annually to maintain clean lines. Avoid heavy cutting in late summer.

For natural tree form, remove dead or crossing branches at the collar. For pleached or pollarded forms, cut back all new growth to the framework of knuckles each late winter using loppers or a pruning saw; feed afterwards to support regrowth.