When should you not cut tree branches?

Author: Cheyanne Oberbrunner  |  Last update: Monday, June 9, 2025

When Should You Not Cut Tree Branches? As a general rule for deciduous trees, you should not cut tree branches from spring to early fall. Cutting tree branches in summer and early fall (during the growing season) can be particularly damaging because it stimulates new growth in the tree.

What part of a tree branch should not be cut?

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.

What months should you not trim trees?

Spring flowering trees should be pruned after flowers have dropped. To avoid the introduction of disease pathogens to oaks and elms, avoid pruning between April 15 and October 15.

Is it okay to trim tree branches in the summer?

Pruning in summer may encourage vigor. In summertime, weak tree growth should be pinched or pruned back about 3 inches from the end of each soft, leafy shoot. This can be repeated in late summer if rapid side-shoot growth occurs.

When can you cut branches off trees?

When is the Best Time of Year to Prune Trees? There is never a bad time to remove dead, damaged or diseased branches. But most trees benefit from pruning in mid to late winter. Pruning during dormancy encourages new growth as soon as the weather begins to warm.

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What happens if you prune a tree at the wrong time?

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.

What month should I trim?

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.

Why shouldn't you prune in summer?

Why shouldn't you heavily prune trees in summer? If you prune to excess in summer, next year, your trees may not be as full. Summer pruning takes away from the tree's total number of leaves, and fewer leaves mean less food flowing throughout the tree for next year's growth.

Do tree branches grow back after trimming?

Branches Don't Actually Grow Back

When removed correctly, branches do not grow back as human tissue might regenerate. Instead, the tree responds to the wound by forming a callous-like growth over the cut area. This growth, similar to a scab on a wound, helps protect the tree from decay and infection.

Can I prune in June?

Prune shrubs that flower before mid-June after they flower. For these spring-blooming beauties, remove the largest stems, cutting them back to the ground. This causes the plant to push out new growth from both the crown and all remaining stems. Prune any other stems to shorten or shape the shrub.

What month is best to cut trees?

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.

Why you should not prune trees?

Cut too much and you'll risk nutritional deficiencies or branches that are too weak to tolerate the wind or fend off diseases or insect invasions. Over pruning and topping can permanently disfigure your trees, or even kill them. Further, a tree's foliage is important for protecting it against excessive sun exposure.

How much of a tree can you cut off before it dies?

ALL dead or diseased wood should be removed. Otherwise, follow these guidelines: For a young tree, no more than 25% of the tree's live wood should be removed each year. For a mature tree, no more than 20% of the tree's live wood should be removed each year.

What is an example of bad pruning?

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.

What is the wrong way to trim a tree?

An improper cut like a flush cut (cutting too close to the trunk) or a stub cut (cutting too far from the trunk) can cause irreversible damage to a tree. A flush cut removes the branch collar and leaves a large wound in the side of the tree that won't heal properly.

Which trees Cannot be cut down?

You can't cut down Live Oaks, Southern Magnolias, Bald Cypresses, or Eastern Red Cedars without a permit. These trees are considered heritage trees due to their size, age, or species. Live Oaks are cherished for their broad-spreading crowns and longevity.

Is it okay to leave dead branches on a tree?

However, if a branch is still connected to the tree, the plant might still try to use resources to revive that branch. Dead branches are not helpful to the tree as they might prevent it from healing properly and, at the same time, allow pests and diseases to invade the tree. Think of the bark of a tree as your skin.

What do you put on tree branches after pruning?

So, what should you put on trees after pruning? Nothing in most cases. Although a professional may apply a sealer on a tree wound in extremely rare circumstances, it's now commonplace to let the cut heal naturally. Sealing a wound can trap problematic moisture within the cut, adversely affecting the healing process.

Should you trim lower branches on trees?

Pruning lower branches from trees is not harmful and benefits the tree's overall health when done properly. However, improper pruning techniques can damage a tree and lead to decay, stress, diseases, and reduced growth. It's important to use the correct methods or hire a professional.

Is there a wrong time to trim trees?

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.

Is it okay to cut tree branches in summer?

Give Your Tree a Summer-Ready Shape With Summer Tree Pruning

Summer trims can cut down on the amount of pruning you'd have to do later in the year. Pinching off tender young branches is a smart idea if you want to encourage growth of thicker, sturdier limbs and discourage weak, “leggy” growth.

When should you not prune?

Pruning in autumn and winter could potentially damage the plant, as it can unbalance the root to shoot ratio during a period when it is too cold to regrow. The best time to prune is after flowering.

Is May too late to prune?

Dead wood can be removed anytime from any plant, but shrubs that bloom before the end of June should only get touch up pruning in May. More can be cut after the flowers finish if needed.

What month should I start cutting?

Wondering when to start a cutting phase? Work back from when you want to look your best. For example, if you have a vacation booked in July, workout eight to 12 weeks prior to this and time your cut to start then. Allowing at least three months of cutting is optimal, to ensure you lose weight sustainably.

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