When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree trimming?” The answer is sometimes indirect.
The type of tree often dictates when many species can be trimmed, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other species of plants and trees nearby.
With the assistance of a professional arborist in Colorado, you will be able to decide what time of year 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 context, CO Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in most areas. This season is best because trees are usually dormant, so pruning will cause the least amount of damage, if any.
There are many benefits to trimming trees during the winter:
Less chance of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are largely inactive during the winter. During the remainder of the year, everything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly pruned tree because the tree will be the most susceptible and these issues are more common in warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the complete shape of a tree. When the branches are bare, it is a lot 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 during the winter, your trees will have several months to build up 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 trimmed, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce brand new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging surrounding landscape – Most of the nearby trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer months, 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 can benefit from routine trimming. Tree trimming each 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:
Trimming Makes the Tree Stronger
Dead and diseased limbs are removed, as are stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against one another are also pruned so that they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each winter is a great way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and insect infestations can be identified and handled as soon as possible.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to reach every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Trimmed trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping issues. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, pruning each winter will maximize the results you want from it.
Trees are More Attractive After Trimming
If the curb appeal of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Trimming trees gives them an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is very important if you have several identical trees on your property.
Removing lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles enhances the overall look of the tree while also strengthening tree health.
Less Risk of Falling Branches
Tree pruning – done the right way – encourages the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Colorado won’t damage your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety issue for overgrown trees is that they block the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other professional tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call CO Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a certified arborist in Colorado gives you access to their knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist won’t just consider the immediate situation. Instead, an experienced arborist will take time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and factors that could put them at risk of disease or infestation). After gathering all of the information, an arborist will suggest a long-term plan based on the trees’ needs and stick to that plan until your goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan could take 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 maintenance will result in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping resist plant diseases and enhance flower or fruit production from your trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree pruning will save you a lot of money too. Preventative maintenance is far more affordable than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing a sick tree of a disease that has gotten out of control (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 CO Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Colorado. Call now!
