When it comes to the question, “What season is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer can be vague.
The type of tree usually dictates when many species are able to be trimmed, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other types of plants and trees in the landscape.
With the guidance of a certified arborist in Oklahoma, you can decide which time of year is optimal for trimming your trees to prepare them for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Prune Trees
Without any other context, OK Tree Trimming recommends trimming trees in the winter. This ranges from November to March in most areas. Winter is optimal because the trees are typically dormant, so trimming will lead to a minimal amount of damage, if any.
There are several benefits to pruning trees in the winter:
Less risk of pest damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are mostly inactive during the winter in Oklahoma. During the remainder of the year, anything from insects to fungus can harm a freshly pruned tree because the tree will be the most susceptible and these issues are more common during warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of the tree. When tree branches are bare, it is much easier to see dead or diseased branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees have time to heal before spring – By performing major pruning during the winter, your trees will have many months to rebuild callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By spring season, you’ll hardly be able to tell where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming surrounding landscaping – Most of the nearby trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is less risk of damaging them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter months since these annuals have already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees will benefit from annual pruning. Tree pruning each winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Pruning Makes the Tree Healthier
Dying and diseased branches are cut off, as are stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub one another are also trimmed so that they don’t weaken one another or create an open wound on the tree.
Pruning trees every winter is also a great way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and pest infestations can be spotted and dealt with immediately.
A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be 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 intended to do.
Trimmed 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 problems. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, routine trimming will improve the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Attractive After Trimming
If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is a necessity! Trimming trees results in an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is very important if you have a lot of similar trees on your property.
Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles improves the overall look of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Risk of Dropping Branches
Tree pruning – from a professional – encourages the remaining tree branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Oklahoma won’t affect 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 block the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other professional tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call OK Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Working with a professional arborist in Oklahoma gives you access to their expert knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We recommend relying on their expertise if there are trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist doesn’t only consider the immediate situation. Instead, an arborist will take time to research your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that may put them at risk of disease or infestation). After gathering all 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 achieved.
This plan might take years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This kind of annual maintenance will aid in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and improve flower or fruit production from your trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree care can save you a lot of money too. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or restoring a sick tree of a disease that has gotten out of control (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the curb appeal of your landscaping, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from OK Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Oklahoma. Call today!
