When it comes to the question, “What season is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer will likely be indirect.
Tree type will determine when many species are able to be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other species of plants and trees in the landscape.
With the guidance of a professional arborist in Minnesota, you can decide what season 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, MN Tree Trimming recommends trimming trees during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in Minnesota. Winter is optimal because trees are mostly dormant, so trimming will lead to the least amount of harm, if any.
There are several benefits to trimming trees in the winter:
Lower chance of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are usually inactive in the winter in Minnesota. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a newly pruned tree because the tree will be the most susceptible and these issues are more common when there is warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of a tree. When the tree branches are bare, it is much easier to see diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees can heal before spring – By performing significant pruning during the winter, your trees will have many months to build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring, you’ll hardly be able to identify where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce brand new leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming nearby landscape – Most of the surrounding trees and plants will also be dormant during this time, so there is less risk of damaging them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter since these annuals have already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from pruning. Tree trimming in the winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Stronger
Dying and diseased limbs are removed, as are stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against each other are also pruned so they don’t weaken each other or create an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees every winter is a good way to get expert eyes on the health of your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and pest problems can be spotted and handled 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 weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Pruned 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 want from it.
Trees are More Attractive After Trimming
If the curb appeal of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is a necessity! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is especially important if you have several similar trees on your property.
Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles enhances the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Chance of Dropping Branches
Tree trimming – from a professional – encourages the remaining tree branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t damage your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety concern for overgrown 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 MN Tree Trimming for Tree Trimming
Hiring a professional arborist in Minnesota gives you access to their knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We highly recommend relying on their years of experience if there are trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist won’t just consider the immediate situation. Instead, he or she will take the time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and factors that may put them at risk of disease or infestation). After collecting all the information, an arborist will create a long-term plan based on the trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until the goals for your trees are met.
This plan could take many 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 care will promote healthy tree growth, help your landscaping fight off plant diseases and improve fruit or flower production from your trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree care will save you a lot of money too. Preventative maintenance is much more cost-effective than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or restoring a sick tree from 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 trimming and maintenance from MN Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Minnesota. Call today!
