Tree Trimming & Tree Pruning Basics

As a homeowner you worry about maintenance both inside and outside your home. One area that you may not always think about, however, is your trees. Tree trimming is important because it helps remove dead or dying limbs, remove limbs that interfere with power lines and help keep your trees healthy. In fact, trees will grow and thrive more easily after a proper trimming.

There are specific times during the year when you should trim your trees. You should do your trimming in the fall if you want new growth in the spring. However, it’s important to wait until the coldest part of winter has passed before performing your winter pruning. Some species like maple, walnut and birch may bleed when their sap begins to flow. Don’t worry, this is normal and not harmful to the tree. This will cease when the leaves come out in the spring.

 

You may also prune and trim in the summer while you’re taking care of your other landscaping.  You can use your summer tree trimming to slow the growth of branches you don’t want. You can also use pruning to remove defective limbs or ones that hang down too far under the weight of leaves.

 

When it comes to flowering trees, you’ll want to prune these in the springtime to enhance flowering. After your tree blooms, trim off the flowers as they fade. To really enhance blooms, you can opt to prune trees and shrubs in the winter that typically flower in mid to late summer.

 

So, when shouldn’t you trim your trees? One time of year that you should never perform tree trimming and pruning is in the fall. When you cut off a tree limb or prune your shrubs, the remaining plant heals the wound. Fungi spread quicker in the fall and can slow the healing process. Instead of tree trimming, there are several other landscaping projects you can focus on to ready your garden and lawn for winter and colder temperatures.

 

For more information about the best tree trimming and pruning practices, call us. We’re more than happy to provide pruning advice as well as tree trimming services this fall. Call us today or click here for a quote.