Many arborists are faced with customers who present this critical question: When should I trim my trees? Well, in most cases, clients may not get a straight answer when this question arises. This explains why we decided to compile an exhaustive answer to this question once and for all.
Here is what you need to know about trimming your trees and shrubs. If you are looking for assistance in taking care of your trees and shrubs, ensure to reach out to our team at IronWood EarthCare today. Whether you have questions about activities required in the early spring or late winter, remember that our team at IronWood EarthCare is here for you.
Why Experts Suggest to Prune Trees
In most cases, tree pruning is done to eliminate infestation and branches that are weak, dead, or diseased. The process can be done at any time of the year. However, you must ensure that the pruning process leaves the tree with minor amounts of harm. Also, remember that the wounds that come from the pruning exercise may act as essential spots of spreading diseases like wilt.
The sole purpose of removing the dead branches from your tree is to make it look better and grow healthier.
The Time to Prune Trees
Here’s an overview of the period to prune your trees, depending on the type.
Young trees
It would be best to appreciate that a tree that receives the proper pruning attention in the early stages of growth is most likely to need minimal attention when it grows older. This is because pruning at the early stage ensures that your tree remains strong and develops in good shape. In particular, you need to prune your young trees when you feel that they have excess branches. Similarly, you may initiate the pruning process when you observe that the additions outweigh the stump, especially when the young tree begins bending.
Deciduous trees
Deciduous trees will shed their leaves at least once a year. As such, it would be a great idea to prune your deciduous trees between late fall and winter. This is the time of the year when your deciduous trees have entered a dormant stage. Similarly, you will not face any difficulties identifying the frameworks of the branches of your deciduous trees. Most importantly, your tree will be free from insect and disease activity in the period between late fall and winter.
Flowering trees
Well, there’s no distinct season for trimming your flowering trees. Nonetheless, you must be extra keen to study how your flowering trees evolve throughout the year before you develop a well-informed punning schedule. The International Society of Arboriculture recommends that you trim your flowering trees immediately after they have undergone the blooming process.
Even with this recommendation, you need to know that you are not restricted to pruning your flowering trees only after they have bloomed. You may also engage in a range of routine pruning practices targeting dead branches and those that depict the signs of dying. Such components should be eliminated as soon as they are identified. Similarly, remember that the type of flowering tree in your compound will have specific pruning needs and rules that must be adhered to when trimming.
Is Early Spring or Late Winter The Best Time to Prune Trees?
Some people have the belief that fall is the perfect timing to prune their trees, particularly in areas where the four seasons are present. Remember, the bright leaves on your trees will start floating down during fall, while the large limbs will look abnormal. However, it would be best if you kept a few aspects in mind. Remember not to follow some of the conventional ‘assumptions’ as you may expose your precious trees to irreparable harm.
Furthermore, you must appreciate that your trees will be preparing for dormancy during fall and will be extracting most of the “good aspects” from the leaves for storage. As such, you must remember never to prune your trees during fall if there’s no absolute reason.
Conclusively, there’s no specific time for trimming your trees. Your schedule will be restricted to where the trees are located, the prevailing weather conditions, the health status of the tree, its vegetative growth, and the presence of dead or dying branches. However, your tree will get optimal gains if the trimming is done during dormancy. It will encourage new growth when the warm weather comes. However, you must be aware that some trees may bleed sap if trimmed in late winter.\
Reach Out to IronWood EarthCare For Trees and Shrubs Today
Surprisingly, there are quite a few nuances when it comes to tree care. You now know that you may have tree and shrub care in the early spring or in the late winter. You may wonder what is the best time to prune your trees or might want to know more about new growth.
Whatever the case may be, whether it is dormant season, diseased branches, flowering trees, or other maintenance matters on your landscape, remember that our team at IronWood EarthCare is there to help solve your problems.
