When it comes to the question, “What season is best for tree trimming?” The answer can be indirect.
Tree type usually dictates when many species can be trimmed, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other types of plants and trees nearby.
With the help of a certified arborist in Washington, you will be able to decide 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 Prune Trees
Without any other information, WA Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming in the winter. This would be sometime within November to March in Washington. This season is optimal because the trees are usually dormant, so trimming will lead to a minimal amount of damage, if any.
There are several benefits to trimming trees during the winter:
Lower risk of pest damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are usually inactive during the winter. During the remainder of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly trimmed tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive in warmer weather.
Easier to determine the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of the tree. When tree branches are bare, it is much easier to see diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees can heal before spring – By performing major pruning during the winter, your trees have many months to build up callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By the spring, you’ll hardly be able to identify where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming nearby landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and plants will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter since these annuals have already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from annual pruning. Tree pruning each winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Stronger
Dying and diseased limbs are removed, as are branch stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Branches that can rub one another are also trimmed so that they don’t weaken each other or create an open wound on the tree.
Pruning trees every winter is also a good way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect problems can be identified and handled immediately.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to get to every limb. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Trimmed trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping problems. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, pruning will maximize the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming
If the view of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is important! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is important if you have a lot of identical trees on your property.
Cutting off lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles enhances the overall look of the tree while also strengthening tree health.
Less Risk of Falling Branches
Tree pruning – from a professional – helps the remaining branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Washington won’t affect your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety concern for overgrown trees is that they impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other specialized tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call WA Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a certified arborist in Washington gives you access to their knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We highly recommend relying on their expertise if there are trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist won’t only look at the immediate situation. Instead, he or she will take the time to inspect your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that could put them at risk). After collecting all the information, an arborist will suggest a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that course of action until your goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan might take years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This kind of annual maintenance will aid in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and increase flower or fruit production from your trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree care will save you a lot of money over time too. Preventative maintenance is much more affordable than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or curing a sick tree of a disease that has spread out of control (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the beauty of your landscaping, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from WA Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Washington. Call now!
