The trees in your yard offer natural beauty and a wide variety of environmental benefits, such as cleaner air and natural cooling. However, your trees will likely need some maintenance to remain strong and healthy. Tree pruning is one tree service that should be completed every few years, as it promotes healthy growth and removes diseased, dead, or otherwise damaged limbs.
The proper time of year for tree pruning varies from species to species, but most trees should be pruned during the winter months. Here are a few key reasons why tree pruning is typically done in the winter:
- It’s when trees are dormant. Most types of trees are dormant in the winter, which means they are not actively growing. This is the time to cut off branches and other parts of the tree that are inhibiting the growth of other branches or that are damaged in some way. Pruning when trees are dormant is less stressful for them, and it will ensure they can grow healthily once the weather warms up again.
- There are fewer leaves to worry about. It’s difficult to see which parts of the tree need to be removed when there are tons of leaves in the way. In the winter, the leaves have already fallen off, which means better visibility and more precise tree pruning.
- Pests are less of a risk. Tree pruning could leave trees vulnerable to pests and diseases, but because most insects and diseases are also dormant in the winter, it’s not as risky to prune trees at this time.