When Should You Prune Your Trees?

 Many people believe that tree pruning in the fall is the perfect time of year for some reason, especially where there are four seasons. The bright leaves are starting to fall, and some big limbs are looking a little iffy. But that assumption could damage or even kill your precious trees, even mature trees.

Falling is not a time for learning how to prune. Trees then prepare for dormancy, and it takes all the good stuff out of its leaves to store,' says Tchukki Andersen, Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) staff arborist in Manchester, N.H. The organisation provides tree care companies with training and resources.

You won't see success, the arborist states, if you just go willy nilly and start cutting tree branches. If in the fall there is no absolute reason to prune trees, then don't. When the tree is actively growing in the early spring or completely dormant in the winter months, save your tree pruning.

She stresses that qualified tree care specialists prune trees every day without a lot of detrimental effects all year round.

Nevertheless, tree service specialists know more about how to care for the health of a tree," she says." "They understand its processes and stages, such as dormancy and new growth."

Andersen adds that until a crisis happens, many homeowners really don't know what kind of trees on their property are. It can add value to homes and add shade and beautification to the landscape to learn about those trees and their needs for staying healthy.

Before pruning lower branches or any other part of the tree, she recommends first getting an evaluation from tree trimming specialists or an arborist before doing anything with your trees.
Get Expert Tips

Taking a tree inventory begins with good tree care. If you don't know what kind of trees are growing in your yard or if they need to be trimmed or not, then you can do several things to find out.

In order to get free advice, Andersen suggests contacting your local Cooperative Extension Service. Some have on staff a certified arborist or horticulturist. For the region in which you live, whether in the country or a big city, they provide their expertise. By clicking on the Land-Grant University Website Directory and going to your state, you can find the one closest to you. Click on it once you find your state, and there will usually be a tab to locate your local county extension bureau. Andersen says their websites are robust, with data about trees, too.

Or you can find a qualified tree care firm to come to do an evaluation. You can ask them about your trees' health, which ones might fall on your house during a storm and any other pending disasters, she says. You can go to the International Society of Arboriculture's (ISA) TreesAreGood.org, a website helping the public with tree-care information, to find a certified arborist.
By Tree Type, When to Prune

Most routine pruning is done to remove infestations, branches that are weak, dead or diseased, and can be completed with little effect on the tree at any time during the year. Pruners should know as a rule that if pruning happens in late winter before a spring growth spurt, growth and wound closure are increased, confirms the tree-pruning guide of the ISA.

Diseases may spread through the wounds from pruning. Oak trees can suffer from oak wilt, for instance. The way a tree grows can be changed by each cut. So, Andersen says that, without a clear reason, no branch should be cut. Strive when pruning for branch collar cuts.

To make the tree look better and grow stronger, homeowners remove dead branches. They also prune hazardous branches that could fall during a thunderstorm on someone or the roof. Light diffusion and air flow to the tree's crown or to someone's home or landscape can also be increased by shaping trees.

Here are a few different kinds of trees and the best tree trimming time of the year:
Caducals

These are the trees which, every year, shed their leaves. According to the Extension Service's Wisconsin Horticulture division, most deciduous trees should be pruned from late fall to winter. They have entered their dormant season, and then the framework of the branches is easy to see, and insect and disease activity is gone.
The Young Trees

With proper pruning, developing a strong and good shaped tree occurs. As they grow older, trees which receive the right amount of pruning while they are young will need less excessive trimming. Ask your professionals, depending on your area of the country, when the trimming should be done.
SUBTROPIC

Due to the growing environment, trim trees year-round in regions such as Florida and California. They constantly replace lost tissue and have abundant sources of 12 months a year of sunshine and water, Andersen adds. "It's not possible to prune large limbs every day, though," she says. The industry standard is never to produce pruning cuts that in any season remove more than 30 percent of live tissue from a tree. "You're done for the season if you have a giant broken branch and 30 percent of the leaves are on that branch."
Trees of Flowering

According to the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, they should be pruned after blooming. At any moment, routine pruning of dead or dying branches can be done. Your type of tree, however, may have specific trimming needs and rules.
The New Trees

Annually, inspect for pruning needs.
Prune trees regularly to keep them healthy, secure, and aesthetically pleasing throughout their lives.
Do not postpone pruning until the limbs are larger. Large limbs are equivalent to large wounds that are harder for a tree to seal and leave the tree open to disease, insects, and rot.
As a substitute for proper tree selection and placement, do not try to chop the tops off trees to decrease their size. Called topping, this practise can really hurt your trees.https://lowcuttreeservices.tumblr.com/post/639338593425457152/how-to-check-if-your-trees-are-dying-and-what-you