All Trees Benefit from Trimming
You’re wondering when is the best time of year to trim your trees … but you’re probably also wondering whether or not your particular trees actually need to be trimmed. They’ll be ok on their own, right? Like the trees in the forest?
Your trees need to be trimmed. Not because there’s anything particularly wrong with your trees, but because all trees, of all ages and all types, benefit from trimming. Although it’s true that trees in the forest get by without trimming, that’s partly because no one is generally worried about getting a massive branch on their garage or waking up to a tree resting on your home when it grows in the forest. Most likely, if a tree falls in the forest, no one will be there to see it (or have to file any insurance claims about it).
Trees in your yard need to be trimmed. It helps to maintain their strength, health, and an overall balanced and aesthetically pleasant shape. It can help to find and stop pest infestations early, and can increase your trees’ lifespan.
So … when SHOULD you have your trees trimmed?
The Short Answer: Late Fall, Winter, or Very Early Spring
The smartest time to work on your trees is when they are in their dormant stage, meaning they aren’t actively growing, producing fruit, or maintaining leaves. In the late fall (after a strong freeze) and throughout the winter, most trees go into a dormant stage, and their growth pauses. It is comparable to a bear hibernating for the winter — the tree conserves energy by dropping its leaves (for a deciduous tree) and stopping its growth until more intense sunshine and warmth return in the spring.
When you prune a tree during its dormant stage, you will not affect its bloom potential for the spring and summer seasons. If you cut shoots or branches after new growth has begun in the spring, then you might stunt the tree’s growth for that year, reduce its flowering or fruiting potential, or change the path of the tree’s growth – possibly altering it from its ideal shape.
Additionally, insects are dormant in the late fall and winter, and this time of year does not provide ideal growth conditions for many molds, bacteria and fungi. Trimming in the late fall and early winter minimizes the potential for the wounds created during pruning to act as an entrance point for pests or disease.
Winter Is a Good Time for Tree Pruning
Tree pruning is also easier when the ground is harder. The frozen (or near-frozen) soil creates a sturdier base upon which tree trimming professionals can stabilize their ladders. Also, for leafy trees, having the leaves off the tree makes the shape and condition of the branches easier to see. It is easier to view the branches, and this simplifies the tree trimmer’s job in deciding which branches and limbs should be pruned.
So late fall and winter are the best times for tree trimming … but the second-best time to trim your trees is anytime. We often see homeowners putting off trimming their trees because it isn’t the “ideal” time … only to not have it done during the ideal time, either. Yes, winter is the best time – but better to do your tree trimming during another part of the year than to skip it entirely. If it’s been more than a year since you’ve had your trees trimmed, give your local tree service professional a call and have it done now, rather than continuing to miss the “perfect” time.
If you think your trees need trimming – and chances are high that they do require at least some degree of pruning each year – then you should call your local tree service for an appointment. The winter may not be ideal for some activities, but it is certainly perfect weather for pruning a tree. Here at Tree Images, we’re ready to help you take care of your trees (and if you REALLY want to wait for winter, you can also make an appointment ahead of time)! Give us a call at 513.528.4167 to find out how we can help you and your trees.
