When it comes to the question, “Which season is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer is sometimes indirect.
The type of tree will dictate when many species are able to be trimmed, along with pest 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 Wisconsin, you can figure out which time of year is optimal for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other information, WI Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in Wisconsin. This season is optimal because trees are usually dormant, so trimming will cause the least amount of harm, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees during the winter:
Lower chance of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are mostly inactive in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can harm a freshly pruned tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.
Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of the tree. When the branches are bare, it is much easier to identify diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.
Trees can heal before spring – By performing major tree trimming during the winter, your trees have several months to rebuild callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring season, you’ll barely be able to notice where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce new leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging nearby landscaping – Most of the nearby trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter months since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees will benefit from pruning. Tree trimming each winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family. Let us explain:
Pruning Makes the Tree Healthier
Dying and diseased branches are removed, as are branch stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against one another are also pruned so they don’t weaken each other or cause an open wound on the tree.
Pruning trees every winter is a great way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect problems can be spotted 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 get to every branch. 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, blossom 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, routine trimming each winter will maximize the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Pruning
If the view of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is a necessity! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is very important if you have several 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 Falling Branches
Tree trimming – from a professional – helps the remaining tree branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Wisconsin won’t affect your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety issue for large trees is that they impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call WI Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a certified arborist in Wisconsin gives you access to their expert knowledge on tree trimming. We highly 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, he or she will take time to research your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and factors that could put them at risk of disease or infestation). After gathering all the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on the trees’ needs and stick to that plan until the goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan could require years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This kind of annual maintenance will aid in healthy tree growth, help your entire property fight off plant diseases and increase flower or fruit production from trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree care can save you a lot of money as well. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing an ill tree of 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 landscaping, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from WI Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Wisconsin. Call today!
