Top Reasons to Prune in Winter
While it may seem as though the landscape work is done for the year, winter is the prefect time to prune your trees and shrubs for a number of reasons.
Pruned trees and shrubs are healthier, live longer, have improved blooming, and generally look better.
But why prune them in winter?
Here are the top benefits and reasons to prune your tree and shrubs in the winter.
1. It’s Easier to Evaluate Tree Structure in Winter
After the leaves have dropped in the fall, it’s easier to view the interior of the tree canopy and its branching structure, allowing you to see where to prune, how much to prune, and form the correct shape for the tree or shrub.
For a trained arborist, it’s also easier to identify dead or dangerous branches. This lets us determine whether or not pruning is needed to keep your trees safe and looking their best.
2. Helps Prevent Disease
Cold temperatures mean less concern about pest and disease issues associated with pruning cuts since pests and disease are often in a dormant state through the winter. For example, Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, cedar hawthorn rust, and fire blight all spread quickly during the growing season.
Pruning also improves a tree's air circulation keeping diseases from striking.
2. Better Looking & Stronger Trees
Late winter pruning is a great time to reshape and rejuvenate overgrown shrubs and trees. Pruning helps direct growth and controls the size of a tree or shrub resulting in a strong structure and attractive form. Properly pruned trees and shrubs stand up better to storms, high wind, and ice and snow.
4. More Efficient and Cost Effective
Here in the Northeast, the ground often freezes in winter. Frozen ground allows us to bring in heavy equipment without damaging your lawn and landscape, resulting in lower costs, faster work, and better outcomes. This is especially true for large pruning jobs and tree removals.
5. Causes Less Stress for Trees
Because the tree is dormant, winter pruning doesn’t stimulate new growth. Research shows that pruning before buds open in spring leads to optimum wound closure meaning the trees are able to heal from pruning cuts before warmer weather brings out destructive insects and pathogens.
6. Prevents Winter Damage
Damaged, dead or dying trees can be dangerous in winter, resulting in home and property damage, especially when we get significant amounts of ice or snow. Dormant pruning rejuvenates weaker trees by removing dead and diseased wood making them safer.
INITIAL STEPS:
Before pruning begins, you’ll need a thorough evaluation of your trees and shrubs current state - dead, declining or broken branches, rubbing or crossing branches, structural defects, evidence of disease, and proper shape.
Once evaluated, we can prioritize which trees and shrubs are in the most need of pruning work, or of the greatest importance to the property. Then we can create a pruning plan and schedule for the property.
Winter is the optimal time to have an certified arborist evaluate your trees and shrubs to develop a pruning plan. Email us to schedule your arboricultural property evaluation. Depending upon size of property and quantity of plant material, evaluations take between 20 minutes to 2+ hours. After the evaluation, notes and associated pricing will be emailed over the next week. Please mention any specific concerns for the arborist to inspect during the evaluation.
Schedule a consultation today. Text or Call (978) 473-2417 or email us at heirloomtree@gmail.com