Dormant pruning is the process of performing routine maintenance pruning on trees and shrubs at a time when they are not actively growing. Elevating low hanging branches, removing damaged or broken limbs, and creating space between structures and the landscaping can all be done during late Fall and Winter.
With dormant pruning, the oldest branches are removed at ground level or from inside the plant to open it up and reduce size. Many shrubs flowering from new wood respond very well to dormant pruning, becoming healthier and producing vigorous blooms. Damage caused by shearing is corrected at this time as well.
When to Dormant Prune. We recommend doing your pruning from late-November to early-March. This is the natural hibernation and dormancy period which means you can prune your plants without jeopardizing the health of your plants.
Dormancy in trees is the time at which the tree is alive but not actively growing.
The two basic types of pruning cuts are heading and thinning. Thinning cuts are the least invigorating type of cut and are the most effective pruning cut for maintaining woody plants in their natural form. Pruning, particularly heading cuts, stimulates regrowth very close to the pruning cut.
In pruning, there are three primary types of pruning cuts, thinning cuts, reduction cuts, and heading cuts, each giving different results in growth and appearance.
The Differences Between Pruning and Trimming
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.
Trees that shed their leaves annually, or deciduous trees enter a dormant state during fall or winter to help them survive the lower temperatures and the lack of water caused by icing and frost.
This dormancy is seen by the tree shedding leaves and halting growth. The majority of trees will drop their leaves from the crown downward. Typically, what you don't want to see is when the leaves turn brown, but never shed.
The most obvious dormant examples are deciduous trees and shrubs that shed their leaves. Growing in cold winter climates forces them to stop their growth to survive.
Pruning Too Early
If you prune too early in the season, there's a good chance you'll snip the buds right off their branches, which means no flowers in the spring. Before you cut, do a little research, like with our pruning guide, or just wait to trim until the plant has finished blooming for the year.
Did you know that if you prune too late in the season, you stimulate new growth, which will not have time to harden off before the first frost, which will be coming soon to our neck of the woods. This can weaken and damage the plant, so its best to leave the pruning until spring.
Any gardening expert will tell you, (contrary to what you may believe) that pruning encourages new growth just when the plant is trying to go dormant and new growth doesn't have enough time to harden before the first frost and freezing temperatures hit. Pruning at this time of year will severely weaken the plants.
You should not do aggressive pruning in summer. Major structural pruning should wait until the plant is dormant in winter. Improper pruning will stress the plant. You might cut off valuable buds.
On average a tree in the northern hemisphere needs to go through 60 days where the temperature is below 40 degrees for the abscisic acid to break down enough to allow the tree to leaf out once favorable conditions arrive.
While plants in endo-dormancy rely on internal chilling requirements and develop cold hardiness, plants in eco-dormancy remain there only during cold weather, typically when temperatures are below the mid-40s. Trees enter the first stage of eco-dormancy during seasonal temperature and day-length changes.
#1: Look at the Buds
Even during a dormant stage, a tree will produce new buds from its crown. These buds are a clear indicator that the tree is dormant and not dead. Not all buds are green as they vary in color. Different variations of trees have different color buds like brown and deep red.
Because both tree roots and a tree's internal functions are still working during dormancy, a tree in winter needs regular water and oxygen.
These processes include respiration, photosynthesis, some cell division, enzyme synthesis, production of growth stimulators, and dissipation of growth inhibitors. Dormancy of trees can be divided arbitrarily into three phases: early rest, winter rest, and after-rest.
While your tree seems dormant above ground, the underground system of roots is busy at work growing, searching, and retaining nutrients to help get your tree through the winter and to prepare it for the spring. Even though we don't normally see a tree's roots, they play an important role in a tree's life.
In order to survive through the winter trees must “fall asleep”. They are still alive, but do not allocate energy to growth and preform very few functions. The type of dormancy depends on the climate the tree grows in, but most follow a general path.
Proper pruning encourages strong growth, increases flower and fruit production, improves plant health, and removes damaged limbs, all which give aesthetic appeal to a tree. Pruning at the right time and in the right way is critical, since it is possible to kill a healthy tree through neglect or over-pruning.
Tree Pruning Encourages Tree Growth and Structure
With proper pruning, a tree can be made to grow into a certain configuration of limbs and branches that is more ideal for the structural integrity of the tree. Maintaining the tree's structure helps to mitigate the risk of broken limbs and falling branches.
Branches that Double-cross or Grow Inward or Grow Downward:
Similarly, branches that grow inward toward the central stem or trunk are likely to end up chafing against other parts of the plant, so it's best to prune them.