When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer will likely be vague.
The type of tree will determine 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 assistance of a certified arborist in Indiana, you can decide which season is optimal for trimming your trees to prepare them for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other information, IN Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming in the winter. This would be sometime within November to March in most areas. Winter is best because trees are mostly dormant, so trimming will lead to the least amount of harm, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees during the winter:
Less risk of insect damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are mostly inactive during the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, everything from insects to fungus can harm a freshly trimmed 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 get in the way of your arborist from seeing the complete shape of a tree. When the branches are bare, it is a lot easier to see dead or diseased branches 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 build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By the spring, you’ll barely be able to notice where the branches were removed, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce brand new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging nearby landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and plants will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of doing damage to them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, 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 will benefit from routine pruning. Tree pruning every winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Healthier
Dying and diseased limbs are cut off, as are stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Branches that can rub against each other are also pruned so that they don’t weaken one another or create an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each year is also a great way to get an expert’s opinion on your trees so that early 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 branch. 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, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to cause 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 Attractive After Trimming
If the view of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is important! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is very important if you have a lot of identical trees on your property.
Cutting off lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles improves the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Chance of Falling Branches
Tree pruning – from an arborist – helps the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Indiana won’t damage your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety issue for large trees is that they can impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other specialized tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call IN Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Working with a professional arborist in Indiana gives you access to their knowledge on tree pruning. We highly recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist won’t just look at the immediate situation. Instead, he or she will take the time to inspect your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and factors that may put them at risk of disease or infestation). After gathering all of the information, an arborist will create a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that course of action until the goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan could require many 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 result in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and improve fruit or flower production from your trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree care will save you a lot of money over time as well. Preventative care is far more affordable than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or restoring an ill tree from a disease that has gotten 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 trimming and maintenance from IN Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Indiana. Call now!
