When is the best time to prune?
Fall is on the doorstep, trees are turning colors and starting to drop. Soon we will be raking, bagging, and cleaning gutters. When you look up at the emptiness of the trees you notice more dead branches.
They are hard to see in the summer when you have a complete cover, but fall and winter everything comes into focus. It is important to remember what time of year it is and even though a branch may not have leaves that may just be from the fall molting season. Let’s look at a few reasons for trimming your trees and bushes.
Prune to promote plant health
Remove dead or dying branches injured by disease, severe insect infestation, animals, storms, or other adverse mechanical damage. Remove branches that rub together. Remove branch stubs. Avoid topping trees. Removing large branches leaves stubs that can cause several health problems. It also destroys the plant’s natural shape and promotes suckering and development of weak branch structures.
Prune to protect people and property
Remove dead branches. Have hazardous trees taken down. Prune out weak or narrow-angled tree branches that overhang homes, parking areas, and sidewalks – anyplace falling limbs could injure people or damage property. Eliminate branches that interfere with street lights, traffic signals, and overhead wires. REMEMBER, DO NOT attempt to prune near electrical and utility wires. Contact utility companies or city maintenance workers to handle it. Prune branches that obscure vision at intersections. For security purposes, prune shrubs or tree branches that obscure the entry to your home.
Timing is everything
The late dormant season is best for most pruning. Pruning in late winter, just before spring growth starts, leaves fresh wounds exposed for only a short length of time before new growth begins the wound sealing process. Another advantage of dormant pruning is that it’s easier to make pruning decisions without leaves obscuring plant branch structure. Pruning at the proper time can avoid certain disease and physiological problems. Always practice safety first. If a tree or bush is near power lines do not attempt to trim. Contact a professional company that has training in dealing with these situations. Also if a tree has large branches that need to be trimmed and they are near a home or other structure this would be another reason to contact a professional.
Damage to property especially if is not yours can lead to time spent arguing over who is supposed to care for trees in this situation. If you live in the Saint Paul, Minneapolis area and you need to hire a professional tree services company contact Ivan’s Tree Service. Over 15 years of experience in the tree removal and trimming field.