When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer can be vague.
The type of tree often dictates when many species are able to be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees in the yard.
With the guidance of a professional arborist in California, you will be able to figure out which time of year is ideal for trimming your trees to prepare them for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other information, CA Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees in the winter. This ranges from November to March in California. This season is best because trees are typically dormant, so pruning will cause the least amount of damage, if any.
There are several benefits to trimming trees in the winter:
Lower risk of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are mostly inactive during the winter. During the rest of the year, everything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly pruned tree because the tree will be the most vulnerable and these issues are more common when there is warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the complete shape of your tree. When tree branches are bare, it is a lot easier to see diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.
Trees can heal before spring – By performing major tree trimming during the winter, your trees have several months to rebuild callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring season, you’ll hardly be able to notice where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce brand new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging surrounding landscape – Most of the nearby trees and greenery 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 have already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees will benefit from annual pruning. Tree trimming each winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family. Let us explain:
Pruning Makes the Tree Healthier
Dead and diseased limbs are removed, as are stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against each other are also pruned so that they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each year is also a great way to get expert eyes on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and pest problems can be identified and dealt with right away.
A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes 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.
Trimmed trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping problems. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, pruning each winter will maximize the results you want from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming
If the curb appeal of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Trimming trees creates an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is very important if you have many similar trees on your property.
Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles improves the overall look of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Chance of Dropping Branches
Tree trimming – done the right way – helps the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in California won’t damage your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety concern for overgrown trees is that they block the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call CA Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a professional arborist in California gives you access to their knowledge on tree pruning. We recommend relying on their years of experience if there are trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist won’t just look at the immediate situation. Instead, he or she will take time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that may put them at risk of disease or infestation). After gathering all of the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until the goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan could take many years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This type of ongoing maintenance will aid in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping fight off plant diseases and increase flower or fruit production from your trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree trimming will save you a lot of money as well. Preventative maintenance is much more cost-effective than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing a sick 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 curb appeal of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from CA Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of California. Call now!
