Fall pruning also helps eliminate unwanted insect and disease problems. Major fall pruning should be done after the tree is completely dormant, so you do not stimulate any new growth that could be prone to winter injury. Some trees will bleed sap if they are pruned in the spring.
Generally, the best time to prune or trim trees and shrubs is during the winter months. From November through March, most trees are dormant which makes it the ideal time for the following reasons: Trees are less susceptible to insects or disease.
Your tree isn't trying to grow in the fall, it is trying to hunker down. Thus, pruning will weaken the plant. It is best to wait to prune until the dormant season next spring.
The only time that's not ideal to prune is right before fall - late summer/early fall. Then the tree doesn't have time to heal and you're maximizing the time for the exposed cut to be exposed to disease, rot, wind drying, too wet, all winter long, etc. Other than that, prune all year long.
These are the 3 Cs (crossing, competing and crowding) of pruning. On grafted trees you might see growth below the graft or in the ground, this is the rootstock trying to express itself as its own tree. These can be removed anytime as they rootstock growth will divert energy away from the grafted tree.
Pruning during the growing season always stimulates new growth. During summer's heat, having to produce that ill-timed new flush of growth greatly stresses a tree. Pruning in the fall is even worse as it prevents the tree from going into a natural dormancy. The exception is heavily damaged, disease or dead wood.
The closer to the tree's trunk roots are cut, the more significant and harmful the damage will be. The 25% Rule – Never cut roots beyond 25 percent of a tree's total volume. The tree may die or fall as a result of this.
You certainly can remove lower branches from almost any plant without doing harm to the plant's health and vigor. Do be warned, however, that you'll never get branches to regrow down there, so be very prudent in removing those branches.
Preventative pruning, and major pruning, should be done early in the spring, while the plant is dormant. Minor pruning, shaping, and trimming can be done all summer as needed. Don't prune plants too heavily in the fall, when plants are getting ready for winter.
The rule on fall pruning is, generally speaking, don't prune in fall. But there are a few trimming tasks you can take on with confidence, provided you approach the job with self-control and a plan. The timing window for these pruning chores is from Thanksgiving to the New Year.
August is an excellent month for pruning many shrubs and trees in the landscape, just ahead of the fall growth spurt. It's also a perfect time for pruning backyard fruit trees for size control. Removing excess growth now instead of waiting until January will help keep fruit trees smaller.
Tree pruning involves the removal of live branches, as well as dead, diseased, and damaged branches for the health of the tree, while tree trimming only involves the removal of branches that interfere in some way.
Pruning trees in the fall will cause them to struggle to heal in time for the cold season, which may lead to disease and decay within your tree. Exception: Trimming trees in the fall works for deciduous types. Deciduous trees should be pruned in the late fall or early winter.
During the spring, diseases and harmful insects are no longer dormant, and when you trim your trees in the spring, they can spread to other trees. In addition, trees that are trimmed in the spring may not have enough time to heal, making them more susceptible to unwanted pests and diseases.
The branch bark ridge is the dark, rough bark ridge that separates the branch from the main branch or trunk. Pruning just beyond the branch collar and branch bark ridge retains the tree's natural defense mechanisms and promotes compartmentalization and callus formation. Do not make flush cuts when pruning trees.
How much can you trim off a tree without killing it? You don't want to remove more than 25% of the foliage from a tree in a single year. Removing too much foliage or too many branches at once could damage your tree beyond repair.
During excessively cold temperatures
Plants are more brittle in cold temperatures. Messing around with them may cause branches to snap and split unintentionally. It's minor, but it could impact the look of a plant or create a haven for insects and diseases later. Don't prune when the temperature falls below 25°F.
The best time to prune is between mid-February and early May. Trees pruned at this time in early spring develop a callous around the cut much more rapidly than those pruned at other times. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.
Some bad pruning examples include: Stub Cuts: These cuts leave a branch stub that prevents the tree from sealing the wound to protect it from diseases. If you can hang something off the end of a branch, it's an incorrect pruning cut.
LaRene Bautner from Millcreek Gardens demonstrates a trimming tutorial with focus on the “3 D's for pruning” : Dead, Diseased, Damaged.
Make proper cuts to insure the health and longevity of your plants. Use the three-cut method when removing large branches. This prevents trunk damage caused by the weight of the branch ripping it and the bark off the tree. Make your first cut about one foot away from the trunk.
The 1/3 rule for pruning shrubs refers to the practice of cutting about 1/3 of wood or a branch. This approach is applied to fully established shrubs and small trees. This is done at this stage since the established shrubs and plants are past their transplant shock.