When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree trimming?” The answer is often vague.
Tree type will dictate when many species are able to be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees nearby.
With the guidance of a certified arborist in Ohio, you can determine which time of year is ideal 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, OH Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees in the winter. This ranges from November to March in Ohio. This season is ideal because trees are typically 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 pest damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are mostly inactive during the winter. During the rest 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 when there is 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 your 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 too close to each other.
Trees have time to heal before spring – By performing significant pruning in the winter, your trees will have several months to rebuild callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By the spring, you’ll hardly be able to notice where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to focus its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming nearby landscape – Most of the nearby trees and plants will also be dormant, so there is less risk of doing damage to 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 in the winter months since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Trimming?
Yes, all trees benefit from trimming. Tree pruning every 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 Healthier
Dead and diseased branches are removed, as are stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against each other are also pruned so that they don’t weaken one another or create an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees every winter is also a great way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and pest infestations can be identified and handled as soon as possible.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be 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 meant to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping problems. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, pruning will improve the results you want from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Pruning
If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is a necessity! Trimming trees creates an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is very important if you have several similar 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 Chance of Falling Branches
Tree trimming – from a professional – encourages the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and high winds 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 large trees is that they 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 good size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call OH Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Working with a certified arborist in Ohio gives you access to their expert knowledge on tree pruning. We strongly recommend relying on their expertise if there are trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist doesn’t only look at the current situation. Instead, he or she will take the 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 make a long-term plan based on the trees’ needs and stick to that course of action until the goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan might take many 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 promote healthy tree growth, help your landscaping resist plant diseases and increase fruit or flower production from trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree trimming can save you a lot of money too. Preventative care is far more cost-effective than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing a sick tree of 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 beauty of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from OH Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Ohio. Call now!
