When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer will likely be vague.
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 plants and trees in the yard.
With the guidance of a certified arborist in Mississippi, you will be able to decide what season is the best for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Prune Trees
Without any other context, MS Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in most areas. This season is optimal because trees are typically dormant, so pruning will cause a minimal amount of damage, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to trimming trees during the winter:
Less chance of insect damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are usually inactive in the winter. During the remainder of the year, everything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly pruned tree because the tree is most vulnerable and these issues are more common during warmer weather.
Easier to determine the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves get in the way of your arborist from seeing the complete shape of a tree. When tree branches are bare, it is much easier to identify dead or diseased branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees can heal before spring – By doing this major pruning during the winter, your trees have many months to build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By the spring, you’ll hardly be able to identify where the branches were trimmed, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce brand new leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging nearby landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant, so there is less risk of them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer months, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter since these annuals have already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from annual trimming. Tree pruning 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:
Pruning Makes the Tree Stronger
Dying and diseased limbs are cut off, as are branch stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Branches that can rub each other are also pruned so they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees every winter is also a great way to get an expert’s opinion on your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect problems can be identified and dealt with as soon as possible.
A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes 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 intended to do.
Trimmed trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and offer better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping problems. 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 view of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming 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.
Cutting off lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles improves the overall beauty of the tree while also strengthening tree health.
Less Risk of Dropping Branches
Tree trimming – from an arborist – encourages the remaining tree branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t damage your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety issue for overgrown trees is that they can impede 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 good size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call MS Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a certified arborist in Mississippi gives you access to their expert knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We highly recommend relying on their expertise if there are trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist doesn’t just look at the immediate 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 could put them at risk). After gathering all the information, an arborist will create a long-term plan based on the trees’ unique needs and stick to that course of action until the goals for your trees are met.
This plan could take years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This type of ongoing maintenance will result in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and enhance fruit or flower production from the trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree care can save you a lot of money over time too. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing an ill tree from a disease that has gotten 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 trimming and maintenance from MS Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Mississippi. Call today!
