When it comes to the question, “Which season is best for tree trimming?” The answer will likely be indirect.
Tree type will determine when many species can be trimmed, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other types of plants and trees nearby.
With the guidance of a certified arborist in Utah, you will be able to figure out what season is ideal for trimming your trees to prepare them for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other information, UT Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming in the winter. This ranges from November to March in Utah. This season is optimal because the trees are usually dormant, so pruning will lead to the least amount of harm, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to trimming trees during the winter:
Less chance of insect damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are usually inactive in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a newly trimmed tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during 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 the tree branches are bare, it is much easier to see diseased or dead branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.
Trees can heal before spring – By doing this significant pruning in the winter, your trees have many months to build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By the spring, you’ll barely be able to tell where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to focus its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming surrounding landscaping – Most of the nearby trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter since these annuals have already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from pruning. Tree trimming in the winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Pruning Makes the Tree Healthier
Dying and diseased branches are cut off, as are stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub each other are also pruned so they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Pruning trees each winter is also a great way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and pest infestations can be spotted and handled right away.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes overgrown, it’s hard for water and nutrients to reach every limb. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and offer better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping issues. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, pruning each winter will maximize the results you want from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Pruning
If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is a necessity! Trimming trees gives them an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is especially important if you have several similar trees on your property.
Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles improves the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Chance of Falling Branches
Tree pruning – from an arborist – encourages the remaining tree branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Utah won’t affect your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety issue for overgrown trees is that they impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other specialized tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call UT Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a certified arborist in Utah gives you access to their knowledge on tree trimming. We recommend relying on their expertise if there are trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist won’t just look at the current situation. Instead, an experienced arborist will take the time to research your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and factors that may put them at risk of disease or infestation). 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 met.
This plan could require many years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.
This kind of ongoing maintenance will promote healthy tree growth, help your landscaping fight off plant diseases and increase flower or fruit production from trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree care can save you a lot of money over time too. Preventative maintenance is much more cost-effective than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or restoring an ill tree of a disease that has gotten out of hand (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 UT Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Utah. Call today!
