Tree Trimming Tips

Many trees benefit from winter tree trimming. It may be said that this is the ideal period since you can more clearly see the "skeleton" of the garden and worry less about destroying smaller, nearby plants. It also forces you to leave the house and engage in physical activity.

Reasons Why We Prune in Early Spring or Late Winter

In temperate areas, the majority of trees go dormant in the winter. At this time of year, they have ceased actively growing and have hunkered down for the winter. Late winter and early spring are perhaps the best times to trim many most and plants because of this dormancy. Why?

For the sake of the trees's ability to recuperate and produce flowers the following year, trimming should be done while the plant is dormant.
By trimming prior to the onset of any new growth, the plant directs its energy into developing new, healthy growth when the higher spring temperatures arrive.
Practically speaking, since deciduous tree lose their leaf in the winter, it is much simpler to see their genuine shapes.

The Best Time to Trim Flowering Shrubs

When your shrubs bloom might be a good indicator of when to prune. After blooming in the late spring or summer, spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas are clipped. Winter or the first few weeks of spring are good times to trim summer-flowering shrubs like butterfly bushes. Why? This depends on whether flowers grow on "fresh" or "old" wood:

Pruning should be done on shrubs that bloom in the late winter and early spring on "fresh" wood. Beautyberry, smooth and panicle hydrangeas, potentilla, Japanese spirea, and St. John's wort are a few examples.
Pruning shrubs that blossom on "old" wood should be postponed until late spring or early summer. Examples include the following: deutzias, azaleas, beauty bushes, spring-blooming clematis, cotoneasters, flowering almonds, forsythias, lilacs, mock oranges, ninebarks, oakleaf hydrangeas, and rhododendron. If you cut them too soon, you'll lose the buds that would have flowered in the spring. As soon as the spring petals start to fade, spring-flowering shrubs should be clipped.

When to Prune Trees and Evergreens

Trim evergreen trees and shrubs in the late winter or early spring when they are still dormant and before new growth starts. Pines and other evergreens are pruned between early June and early July.
Oak and maple trees should be pruned in the late winter or early spring.
Postpone pruning springtime blooming trees like cherry, pear, and magnolia until after they have finished blooming.

It can sometimes be challenging to see if there are dead branches higher up the tree without climbing them. To remove any dead trees, it may be a good idea to engage a tree trimming service every three to five years for this reason. When cutting smaller trees, have a look at tree pruners with longer reach poles so you can keep your own feet firmly planted.

Tips for General Cold-Weather Pruning

A calm, dry day is best for pruning. This is not only more comfortable for you, the gardener, but it also lessens the likelihood that plant illnesses or cold-related damage may spread through water.
Avoid pruning too early in the winter since wounds might get dry if the temperature drops much below freezing.
Prior to performing any pruning, remove all dead and diseased branches, particularly those brought on by the winter's snow and ice.
In the late winter, all evergreen shrubs and trees should have unwanted lower branches cut.
Cut back the smaller, overgrown branches to get lighter and air into the tree's top.
Generally speaking, your objective is to preserve the tree's developing or remaining branches.
Cut branches off where they join other branches or twigs, or at the node.
For more information about proper tree trimming techniques, reference the Tree Care Industry Assoication.

One More Tip!

Contrary to popular belief, pruning requires a lot of physical effort! Make careful you warm up, stretch, pace yourself, and take other safety measures if, like the majority of us, you've been less active throughout the winter (especially after all the Christmas party food).

We hope that this inspires you to get outside and make the most of the slower season to give your garden a head start on its greatest year yet. Of course, you might have additional questions about trimming certain plants, and we will be more than glad to answer them for you!

In the Cleveland, Ohio area, call Saints Tree Service Cleveland (9526 Parkview Ave, Cleveland, OH 44104, 216-438-9080) for a free consultation and estimate to trim your larger trees.