When it comes to the question, “Which season is best for tree trimming?” The answer is sometimes indirect.
Tree type dictates when many species can be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other types of plants and trees in the landscape.
With the help of a certified arborist in Idaho, you will be able to determine which season is optimal for pruning your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Prune Trees
Without any other context, ID Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees during the winter. This ranges from November to March in most areas. Winter is optimal because the trees are usually dormant, so trimming will lead to a minimal amount of harm, if any.
There are many benefits to pruning trees in the winter:
Less risk of pest damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are usually inactive during the winter. During the remainder of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a newly pruned tree because the tree is most vulnerable and these issues are more common during warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves get in the way of your arborist from seeing the overall shape of a tree. When the branches are bare, it is a lot easier to see diseased or dead branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees have time to heal before spring – By performing major pruning during the winter, your trees will have several months to build up callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By the spring season, you’ll barely be able to notice where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce new leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging surrounding landscape – Most of the nearby trees and plants will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from annual pruning. Tree trimming in the winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Pruning Makes the Tree Healthier
Dead and diseased branches are cut off, as are branch stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against one another are also trimmed so they don’t weaken each other or create an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees every year is a great way to get expert eyes on the health of your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and pest problems can be identified and responded to right away.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to get to every limb. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping issues. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, routine trimming will improve the results you want from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming
If the curb appeal of your landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is a necessity! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is very important if you have a lot of similar trees on your property.
Removing lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles improves the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Risk of Dropping Branches
Tree pruning – done the right way – helps the remaining branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t damage your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety issue for large trees is that they can impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call ID Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Working with a certified arborist in Idaho gives you access to their knowledge on tree trimming. We recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist doesn’t just consider the immediate situation. Instead, an arborist will take the time to inspect your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and factors that may put them at risk). After collecting all the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that course of action until your goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan might take years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This type of ongoing care will aid in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping resist plant diseases and enhance fruit or flower production from the trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree trimming can save you a lot of money too. Preventative care is far more affordable than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing an ill tree from a disease that has spread out of hand (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the beauty of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from ID Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Idaho. Call now!
