Should I Prune Trees This Spring?

Perhaps you have heard the common tree care advice to prune trees in the winter, but if you have just recently purchased your home or just missed doing it on time, you still have a chance to make up for it in the spring. Take time to inspect your tree, and if you notice any branch that has overgrown or developed out of proportion, don’t hesitate to trim it. Whether it is for beautification, safety, and growth reasons, trimming and pruning are vital tools to make it happen. However, before you take out the clippers from your toolbox, there are crucial things you should take into account. 

Most trees are better trimmed before new growth sprouts. It is best to trim branches before they are able to grow new leaves because they are still in the dormant period. Be sure that pruning is beneficial to the type of plant you are looking to prune if new growth has sprung. If your objective is to eliminate dead, dying, and unhealthy branches, you can do it any time of the year as it can reduce the risk of the tree declining and turning into a safety hazard for your family. However, make sure to trim the tree using correct techniques because it can be counterproductive if you don’t. 

What should I Trim or Prune?

Not all trees are the same, particularly with the way they should be trimmed or pruned. Maple, birch, and walnut will benefit a lot if they are trimmed between early summer and late spring. If you trim these tree species in the winter, they will likely produce more sap, which can be a little dirty. Trimming will be challenging with the presence of sap as it can stick to your cutting tools. With regard to fruit-producing and flowering trees, pruning is best performed after the blooming cycle has passed. The blooms become a source of food for pollinators and are an essential element to the tree’s overall growth. Apricot, dogwood, crabapple, and lilac are some of the trees that would benefit from pruning after the blooming period. 

What Shouldn’t I Prune?

On the other hand, some tree types will be more exposed to diseases and infestations if trimmed after spring has begun. Oak wilt is a common disease oak can catch when trimmed at the wrong time, while elm trees become more susceptible to getting the Dutch elm disease. Thus, it is essential to find out the perfect time to do some trimming on your landscape trees. If you are perplexed, it is best to ask for help from a professional tree contractor.

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