Tree trimming is a vital part of maintaining your tree’s health. It not only helps beautify the trees, but it also helps to protect your home and property from damage caused by fallen branches. As beneficial as tree pruning is, it should be done with caution and in the right season. This reason is that if trees are pruned at the wrong season, it could significantly damage their health. According to arborists offering professional tree trimming in Portland, it’s best for trees to be pruned at the end of winter; trimming a tree in the fall is a common mistake people make.
However, there are exceptions, in the case where a dead tree branch is posing a potential threat. If this is the case, you should put your safety first and call a professional to expertly trim the tree in a way that won’t harm the tree as well as you, your family, and your property. With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the reasons why you should avoid trimming your trees this fall.
Why You Should Avoid Trimming Your Trees During The Fall
Winter; The Dominant Season Is Just Ahead
Pruning out overgrown branches or dead branches is good as it stimulates the growth of fresh branches. To support the growth of the new leaves and branches, the tree secretes more tree sap. When winter commences, and the tree is still producing saps, it will become strained. This will eventually weaken the tree and cause it to become distressed. Eventually, the tree might not be able to keep up, and the new growth will thin out and stop growing. You could even affect the structural integrity of the tree during this process.
Exposure To Infection And Disease
The season that precedes the fall is the winter which is characterized by cold and moisture. If you prune your trees in the fall, the tree will not have enough time to heal before the winter begins. Once the unhealed tree area is exposed to constant cold and moisture, there’ll be room for bacterial infection and growth. This could make healing more difficult, and it could make your healthy tree become diseased.
In addition, some insects find wet open tree wounds the perfect place to breed and feed. This means the unhealed wound caused by tree trimming would make your tree susceptible to pest infestation in the winter.
Less Visible Tree Limbs and Canopy.
During the fall, the trees have beautiful canopies that are still holding a considerable amount of leaves. The leaves often make it difficult to spot the branches that should be trimmed. But if you wait until the end of winter, the leaves will be all out, and it’ll be much easier to spot the branches that should be trimmed. It would help you avoid cutting down healthy branches and make the trimming exercise easier.
When Is The Best Time For Tree Trimming
The best time to trim your trees is during the dormant season in mid and late winter. During this time, the tree is not actively growing; it has acclimated itself to the cold weather. This means the tree will be dormant by the cold, and new growth will not be stimulated. However, as soon as the tree warms up in the spring, regrowth will begin. It’s important to note that tree trimming during winter will not hurt the tree. The dormancy of the tree at the time of trimming will help the tree heal faster and prevent sap bleeding. Though in some tree species, like the maple tree, you might experience some sap bleeding when you trim in the late winter. Keep in mind that the sap bleeding will not hurt the tree, and it’ll slowly stop to give room for new growth.
Another good time to trim or prune your trees is the summer season. Trimming during summer helps you to redirect the growth angle of the branches. This can be especially useful for trees that have grown too tall or wide, as trimming can redirect growth inward towards the trunk or towards specific areas of the tree that require more growth. Additionally, summer trimming can improve the health and vitality of the tree, leading to more abundant flowering and fruiting in future seasons.
However, whether you choose to trim during the winter or summer, make sure you trim expertly to protect your tree from harm. It’s best to hire a professional tree trimming service to ensure that your trees are trimmed effectively and safely.
