Tree Trimming
Best Time of Year to Trim, Prune Trees
For some reason, many people believe tree pruning in the fall is the perfect time of year, especially where four seasons are present. The bright leaves begin falling, and some large limbs look a little iffy. But that assumption could damage your precious trees or even kill them even mature trees.
“The fall is not the time to learn how to prune. Trees are preparing for dormancy then, and it’s taking all the good stuff out of its leaves to store,” says Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist for Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) in Manchester, N.H. The organization offers training and resources for tree care companies.
If you just go willy nilly and start cutting tree branches, you aren’t going to see success, the arborist states. If there isn’t an absolute reason to do prune trees in the fall, then don’t. Save your tree care pruning when the tree is actively growing in the early spring or completely dormant in the winter months.
She does stress that qualified tree care specialists are pruning trees every day year-round without a lot of detrimental effects.
“However, tree service professionals know more on how to care for the health of a tree,” she states. “They understand its stages and processes such as dormancy and new growth.”
Andersen adds that many homeowners really don’t know what kind of trees are on their property until a crisis happens. Learning about those trees and their needs for staying healthy can add value to homes and add shade and beautification to the landscape.
She recommends before pruning lower branches or any other part of the tree to first get an assessment from tree trimming professionals or an arborist before doing anything with your trees.
Get Expert Advice
Good tree care starts with taking a tree inventory. If you don’t know what kind of trees are growing in your yard or whether or not they need trimming, contact us. Call us at (419) 514-0284 or fill out the “Request Information” form and we will get back to you very soon.