When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer is sometimes indirect.
The type of tree will determine when many species are able to be trimmed, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other species of plants and trees in the yard.
With the help of a professional arborist in Connecticut, you can decide what time of year is ideal for pruning your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other context, CT Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees during the winter. This ranges from November to March in most areas. This season is best because the trees are mostly dormant, so pruning will lead to the least amount of damage, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to trimming trees during the winter:
Lower chance of pest damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are mostly inactive in the winter in Connecticut. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a newly pruned tree because the tree will be the most vulnerable and these issues thrive when there is warmer weather.
Easier to determine the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the complete shape of the 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 pruning in the winter, your trees have many months to rebuild callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By the spring season, you’ll barely be able to tell where the branches were removed, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce brand new leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming nearby landscape – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant, so there is less risk of damaging them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter since these annuals have already died out.
Do All Trees Need Trimming?
Yes, all trees benefit from annual pruning. Tree trimming every winter is good for 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 removed, as are stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Branches that can rub against each other are also pruned so they don’t weaken one another or create an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each year is also a good way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and insect infestations can be identified and dealt with as soon as possible.
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 scraggly and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce 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 maximize the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming
If the view of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is a necessity! Pruning trees gives them an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is especially important if you have a lot of identical trees on your property.
Cutting off lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles improves the overall look of the tree while also strengthening tree health.
Less Risk of Dropping Branches
Tree trimming – done the right way – encourages the remaining branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t affect your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety concern for large trees is that they 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 good size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call CT Tree Trimming for Tree Trimming
Working with a certified arborist in Connecticut gives you access to their knowledge on the subject of tree pruning. We recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist doesn’t only consider the current situation. Instead, an experienced arborist will take the 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 collecting all of the information, an arborist will suggest a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that course of action until the goals for your trees are met.
This plan could require years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.
This type of ongoing care will result in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and enhance flower or fruit production from the trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree pruning will save you a lot of money over time as well. Preventative care is much more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or restoring 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 curb appeal of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from CT Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Connecticut. Call today!
