When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer is sometimes vague.
The type of tree will dictate when many species can be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees in the landscape.
With the help of a certified arborist in Michigan, you can determine what time of year is the best for pruning your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other information, MI Tree Trimming recommends trimming trees during the winter. This ranges from November to March in Michigan. Winter is optimal because the trees are mostly dormant, so trimming will cause the least amount of damage, if any.
There are many benefits to pruning trees in the winter:
Less risk of pest damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are largely inactive in the winter in Michigan. During the rest of the year, everything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly trimmed tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.
Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves stop your arborist from seeing the complete shape of the tree. When branches are bare, it is a lot easier to identify diseased or dead branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees can heal before spring – By performing major tree trimming in the winter, your trees will have many months to rebuild callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By the spring season, you’ll hardly be able to identify where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce brand new leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming surrounding landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and plants will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of doing damage to them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter months since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Trimming?
Yes, all trees will benefit from routine trimming. Tree trimming each winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Healthier
Dying and diseased branches are removed, as are stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against each other are also trimmed so they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each year is also a great way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and pest problems can be identified and handled as soon as possible.
A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it’s hard for water and nutrients to reach every limb. This can leave the tree looking scraggly and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and offer better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping problems. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, routine trimming each winter will improve the results you want from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming
If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is a necessity! Trimming trees results in an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is important if you have several identical trees on your property.
Eliminating lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles enhances the overall look of the tree while also strengthening tree health.
Less Risk of Dropping Branches
Tree trimming – from a professional – helps the remaining tree branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t damage your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety concern for large trees is that they can impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other specialized tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call MI Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a certified arborist in Michigan gives you access to their expert knowledge on tree trimming. We highly recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist doesn’t just consider the current situation. Instead, an experienced arborist will take the time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that may put them at risk of disease or infestation). After gathering all of the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on the trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until the goals for your trees are met.
This plan could require many years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This type of annual care will aid in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping fight off plant diseases and increase flower or fruit production from trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree care can save you a lot of money over time too. Preventative maintenance is much more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or curing an ill tree from a disease that has gotten out of hand (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the curb appeal of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from MI Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Michigan. Call now!
