The best time to prune or trim trees and shrubs is during the late winter while they’re dormant. Pruning during the dormant season is ideal because:
- The wounds heal faster, keeping the plant strong.
- There is less risk of disease or pest infestation.
- There is less sap flowing. Bleeding sap doesn’t really hurt the tree, but it’s messy and can attract pests.
- It’s easier to see what you’re doing while the leaves are gone.
Pruning Guidelines:
- Conifers: Prune in late winter while fully dormant.
- Nonblooming Trees and Shrubs: Prune in late winter while fully dormant.
- Summer-blooming Trees and Shrubs: Prune in late winter.
- Spring-blooming Trees and Shrubs: Wait until immediately after they bloom. They are the exception to the rule, but you still should prune them as early as you can.
You can do the following any time of year:
- Trim back small tree branches (the size you can cut with handheld lopping shears).
- Lightly shape hedges and conifers.
- Remove dead or diseased branches. If you live in an area prone to hurricanes or ice storms, it’s important to remove weakened branches in the fall – it’s better to prune at the wrong time than to have your tree injured by a storm!
When to Prune, by Tree Type
Most routine pruning is done to remove infestation, weak, dead or diseased branches, and can be completed at any time during the year with little effect on the tree. Pruners should know as a rule, growth and wound closure are heightened if pruning happens in late winter before a spring growth spurt, confirms the ISA’s tree-pruning guide.
The wounds from pruning can spread diseases. Oak trees, for example, can suffer from oak wilt. Each cut can change the way a tree grows. So, Andersen says that no branch should be cut without a clear reason. Strive for branch collar cuts when pruning.
Homeowners remove dead branches to make the tree look better and grow stronger. They also prune hazardous branches which could fall on someone or the roof during a thunderstorm. Shaping trees can also enhance light diffusion and air flow to the tree’s crown or to someone’s home or landscape.
Here are a few different types of trees and the best time of year to trim a tree:
Deciduous
These are the trees which shed their leaves each year. Most deciduous trees should be pruned in late fall to winter. They have entered their dormant season and it’s easy then to see the framework of the branches, and the activity of insects and disease are gone.
Young Trees
Developing a strong and good shaped tree happens with proper pruning. Trees that receive the right amount of pruning while they are young will need less excessive trimming as they grow older. Ask your professionals when the trimming should be done depending on your area of the country.
Credit: LawnStarter & TodaysHomeOwner
