Blog Post

When to Prune

  • By Tim Bruchez
  • 07 Feb, 2017

Tree Service 101:  Understanding When to Prune

When to Prune

Light pruning and dead wood removal can be performed at anytime. Otherwise, here is your pruning guide.

Winter Pruning

Pruning in winter is the most common practice. When you prune in winter, the trees will experience vigorous new growth when the trees leaf out in the spring. It's sound practice to wait until after the coldest part of winter has passed.

Summer Pruning

To direct the growth by slowing the branches you don’t want; or to slow “dwarf” the development of a tree or branch, pruning should be done soon after seasonal growth is complete. The reason for the slowing effect is that you reduce the total leaf surface, thereby reducing the amount of food manufactured and sent to the roots. Another reason to prune in the summer is for corrective purposes. Defective limbs can be seen more easily, or limbs that hang down too far under the weight of the leaves. - arborday.org. 

Pruning to Enhance Tree Flowering

If your purpose for pruning is to enhance flowering:

  1. For trees that bloom in spring, prune when their flowers fade.
  2. Trees and shrubs that flower in mid- to late summer should be pruned in winter or early spring.
- arborday.org
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Trees give life . One mature deciduous tree gives oxygen enough for (5) five adults. 

Trees support the ecosystem . From birds, and squirrels to the insects and nuts they feed on, trees play a vital role in providing homes for valuable members of our local neighborhood ecosystem.

Trees bring us happiness and peace . Research shows that a recovering patient will find recovery faster when surrounded by trees and nature. Get out of the hospital and into the forests to find happiness and peace.

Trees provide clean air . Think of trees as the earths HEPA filter. Trees help to filter our air.

Trees keep kids safe . Truth. Large shade trees around our home and yard keep the suns harmful UV rays from scorching our kids sensitive skin as they play in the yard.

Trees reduce our cooling costs . Through casting shade on our homes, trees help to keep our homes cool, reducing our cooling costs. 

This is a short list of the many benefits that trees provide.
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