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.
Late Winter to Early Spring (Dormant Season): - For most deciduous trees, late winter (February to March) is ideal. This is before new growth starts, allowing you to see the tree's structure clearly and minimizing stress on the tree. - Pruning during dormancy can also help prevent disease and pest infestations.
Avoid pruning in fall.
Pruning cuts can stimulate new growth that, unfortunately, will be killed as temperatures drop to freezing. Trees and shrubs reduce their energy production as the growing season ends, so new growth in autumn will use a plant's stored energy reserves.
ALWAYS prune back to or just above a growing point (branch or bud) or to the soil line. NEVER leave a stem or branch stub. NEVER top a tree to “rejuvenate” growth. Â This ruins the plant's natural shape and greatly increases its susceptibility to diseases, insect pests, and storm damage.
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.
One of the most critical risks of not trimming your trees is the potential for dead branches and limbs to fall. Branches that have died can break away during strong winds or storms. These falling branches can pose a significant safety hazard to people and property below.
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.
Prune all branches above four feet growing toward the center of the tree. Always cut back to a larger branch of the trunk. Don't cut to see over branches, but to see through them. Cut off branches that cross each other, rub against the trunk or are dead.
Increased light and air circulation resulting from trimming encourages the overall health of the tree. Pruning in the summer helps to support robust and durable branch development, which will help support healthy fruit in the future.
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.
Generally, pruning trees in the summer is not recommended. During the summer months, most trees are still very active and growing. Trimming during this time could discourage new growth for the next season. Ideally, the season when you should prune trees is winter, when the tree is dormant.
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.
Removing too many lower branches all at once can result in a weak tree. Remove only a few limbs less than 4 inches in diameter when pruning every year. I like to take a few steps back periodically and look at the overall balance of the tree. The live crown on deciduous trees should make up 60 percent of the tree.
When pruning a tall tree to reduce its size, pruning cuts should be made just above lateral branches that are at least one-third the diameter of the branch being removed. Make the cuts at a 45-degree angle, sloping away from the center of the tree.
An arborist, or (less commonly) arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in dendrology and horticulture.
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.
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.
Once a tree has emerged all of its leaves, you can remove dead branches and bunches as soon as you see them to prevent insects and decayed organisms from entering the tree.
The 1/3 rule involves cutting about 1/3 of wood during any pruning activity. This kind of moderate pruning is like giving your shrubs a good balance – it thins them out a bit and encourages new growth.