How to Prune White Fir

Overview

A White Fir is beautiful evergreen sometimes called the Concolor Fir. Concolor is in reference to its uniform color. The 1 ½ to 2 ½ inch long needles (longest needles of the fir family) are a pale blue green color. It can grow to a height of 35 to 40 feet and a width of 15 to 30 feet. The white fir makes a wonderful specimen tree in your landscape design. This evergreen requires very little pruning. You may have to remove damaged branches on occasion or perhaps promote a new leader due to loss of the original leader of the tree. Never prune the lower branches of the white fir as this will destroy its natural form.

Step 1

Prune away any damaged branches as soon as possible. Make a clean cut and do not leave a stub. Clean cuts ensure that the wound will heal properly. The tool that you use will depend upon the size and location of the branch.

Step 2

Choose one leader for the tree when there are multiple leaders present. Leaders can be broken off; when a leader is broken off several leaders will begin to grow.

Step 3

Cut away the other leaders. Correcting a problem of multiple leaders is the only time that you would prune a leader.