Having your trees trimmed is one of the most effective ways to improve their health and increase their longevity. And one of the most common questions we get from homeowners is, “When is the best time of year to trim our trees?” But … one of the biggest reasons homeowners give for NOT trimming their trees is that they are waiting for the “right season” or they’ve missed the “right season”. So, your local tree trimming company is always going to advocate for you making sure your trees get trimmed SOMETIME rather than waiting and holding out for the perfect time. Done is better than not done, even if it’s not at the perfect time. But it’s still true that some seasons are more appropriate for different types of yard treatments. Spring and summer have their advantages for some work, as the flora and fauna are in full bloom.
But many gardeners and homeowners use the winter for trimming their trees. And the fact is, they’re right. Late fall to early spring is the best time of year to trim your trees. Why is winter the best season for pruning your trees?
1. The trees are dormant in the winter
During spring and summer, your trees are growing – the new leaves, fruit and flowers of spring are followed by an expansion of limbs and branches throughout the summer. But your trees are asleep in the snowy frost. After they lose their leaves in the fall, and before new growth starts in the spring, your trees are effectively hibernating. They aren’t doing much – no growth, no changes. This creates a stable time for trimming your trees – and removing branches and limbs in the winter doesn’t waste the tree’s precious energy that it just used to grow those new branches we’re removing, so it’s more efficient and less wasteful for your trees’ growth, too.
2. The pests and infectious agents are dormant in the winter, too
Whenever we make cuts to limbs and branches, we leave little cuts and scabs and open sores on the trees. These should all heal over time and your trees will recover just fine. However, when the cuts are fresh, they offer an opportunity for bugs, pests, and infections to enter the tree’s circulatory system – just as happens with humans when we scrape our knees or have open cuts on our hands.
During the winter, all of those insects and many of those fungi are asleep as well, so they are not able to slip into those open sores where the branches have been cut. The chances of damage based on bacteria, bugs, or microbes are all reduced in the winter months, which makes this the ideal time to cause those temporary wounds to your tree’s surface.
3. We can see their structure without their leaves
Without the leaves on the trees, we can see their structure and branch architecture much more clearly. We can see which branches have died, which branches are growing too close to the ground, and which are growing too robustly and need to be pruned back. When the trees are naked, they are easier to sculpt, allowing us to see and guide the most symmetrical, wholesome shape for your tree.
4. You have the time
While spring and summer are busy seasons for planting, mowing, gathering, and weeding, and fall is a busy time for raking and mulching, winter is a pretty quiet time in a suburban yard. Other gardening concerns are on hold during the winter, so we all have time to pay attention to the trees and their trimming needs. It works out really well that the “quiet season” in terms of gardening lines up well with the best time of year to trim your trees.
Whatever time of year you decide to have your trees trimmed in the Cincinnati area, you can give us a call here at Tree Images. We’ve got years of experience taking great care of your neighbors’ trees, and we’re ready to give yours the gold-standard care they deserve. Call us to find out how we can help you keep your trees happy and healthy throughout the year!
