When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree trimming?” The answer will likely be indirect.
Tree type dictates when many species can be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other species of plants and trees in the yard.
With the guidance of a certified arborist in Oregon, you will be able to figure out which season is ideal for trimming your trees to prepare them for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Prune Trees
Without any other context, OR Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in most areas. This season is best because trees are usually dormant, so trimming will lead to the least amount of damage, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees during the winter:
Less risk of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are mostly inactive in the winter in Oregon. During the remainder of the year, everything from insects to fungus can affect a newly pruned tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues are more common in warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves stop your arborist from seeing the overall shape of your tree. When branches are bare, it is much easier to see 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 pruning in the winter, your trees have many months to build up callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By spring season, you’ll hardly be able to identify where the branches were removed, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming surrounding landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is less risk of them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter months since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from routine trimming. Tree trimming every winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Stronger
Dead and diseased limbs are removed, as are branch 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 create an open wound on the tree.
Pruning trees each year is a great way to get expert eyes on the health of your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and insect problems can be spotted and responded to immediately.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to reach every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping issues. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, routine trimming will maximize the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Pruning
If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is important! Trimming trees creates an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is very important if you have a lot of 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 pruning – done the right way – encourages the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Oregon won’t damage your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety concern for large trees is that they impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other professional tree care services will keep the tree at a manageable size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call OR Tree Trimming for Tree Trimming
Hiring a professional arborist in Oregon gives you access to their expert knowledge on the subject of tree pruning. We recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist won’t only consider the immediate situation. Instead, an arborist will take time to inspect your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that could put them at risk). After collecting all of the information, an arborist will create a long-term plan based on the trees’ needs and stick to that plan until your goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan could take years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This type of ongoing care will result in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and increase fruit or flower production from the trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree care will save you a lot of money over time as well. Preventative maintenance is far more affordable than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or curing an ill tree of a disease that has spread out of control (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 trimming and maintenance from OR Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Oregon. Call now!
