When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer will likely be indirect.
The type of tree will dictate when many species can be pruned, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees in the yard.
With the guidance of a certified arborist in Delaware, you will be able to decide which season is the best for pruning your trees to prepare them for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Prune Trees
Without any other information, DE Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming during the winter. This would be sometime within November to March in Delaware. This season is ideal because trees are usually dormant, so pruning will lead to the least amount of damage, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees during the winter:
Lower risk of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are mostly inactive during the winter in Delaware. Throughout the remainder of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a newly trimmed tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of the tree. When the tree branches are bare, it is much easier to identify dead or diseased branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.
Trees have time to heal before spring – By doing this significant pruning in the winter, your trees will have several months to rebuild callus tissue on the ends 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 focus its energy to produce new leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging nearby landscape – Most of the nearby trees and plants will also be dormant, so there is a lower risk of doing damage to 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 already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from annual pruning. Tree pruning in the winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Healthier
Dying and diseased limbs are cut off, as are stubs that are susceptible 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.
Pruning trees each year is also a good way to get expert eyes on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and pest infestations can be identified and dealt with as soon as possible.
A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it’s hard for water and nutrients to reach every limb. This can leave the tree looking scraggly and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Trimmed trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping issues. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, routine trimming each winter will improve the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Attractive After Trimming
If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is important! Pruning trees creates an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is very important if you have a lot of similar trees on your property.
Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles enhances the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Risk of Dropping Branches
Tree trimming – from a professional – encourages the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Delaware won’t affect your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety concern for large trees is that they can block the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other professional tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call DE Tree Trimming for Tree Trimming
Working with a professional arborist in Delaware gives you access to their expert knowledge on the subject of tree pruning. We recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist won’t only consider the immediate situation. Instead, an arborist will take the time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and factors that may put them at risk). After gathering all of the information, an arborist will suggest a long-term plan based on the trees’ needs and stick to that course of action until your goals for your trees are met.
This plan might take 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 care will result in healthy tree growth, help your entire property fight off plant diseases and enhance fruit or flower production from your trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree care will save you a lot of money too. Preventative care is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or restoring a sick tree of a disease that has spread out of control (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the curb appeal of your landscaping, trust a certified arborist for tree trimming and maintenance from DE Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Delaware. Call today!
