Winter pruning involves trimming unwanted branches off a tree during the cold season, when trees are dormant and pruning isn’t harmful to the tree. One reason for pruning is to remove diseased or dead wood from the plant, as the disease is likely to spread to the healthy parts.

• In addition to the tree’s dormancy, winter offers a number of other advantages for pruning. For example, trees without leaves show their branching structure more clearly. The wintertime is also less likely to facilitate disease transmission among plants, and insects are less likely to investigate the fresh wounds from pruning.
• Winter pruning should have a clear purpose. With deciduous trees, this should include developing a natural style. It’s not sound to shear tall shrubs, to top them so that they are shorter or to limb up a low-branching tree. The tree’s natural outline should remain in place. The best pruning job looks neat, but as if no one has pruned the tree at all.
• In addition to taking off diseased or dead wood pieces, gardeners prune water sprouts (stems growing at right angles from the branches) and suckers (straight stems growing from the base of the tree). Neither of these types of new growth become limbs that look natural or branch well. When pruning, the process should go back to the nearest branch or bud rather than leaving an open end or a stub.

JT Tree Service

Winter Tree Pruning

Should trees be pruned in winter?

Tree pruning provides a variety of benefits to your trees and landscape. In addition to improving their appearance, trimmed trees will be safer and healthier. Pruning promotes plant health by removing dead or dying branches that have previously been injured by disease, insects, mites, animals, storms or people.

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Winter is a great time to prune trees.

Tree Pruning can be done at any time of the year; however, recommended times vary depending on the species. In general, the best time to prune most trees is any time during winter.

• Better access

  The frozen ground gives the arborist access to areas that they would otherwise not be able to reach.

• Better visibility

  Without foliage to obstruct views, structural problems are more visible, making it easier to make pruning decisions. This also reduces damage to under story plants such as perennials and annuals.

• Between growing seasons

  Trees are dormant during winter. Which means fresh wounds will only be exposed for a very short length of time – just until the spring when new growth begins sealing new wounds.

• Convenience

  On the practical side, it is easy for a homeowner or property manager to be inundated with outdoor projects in the spring and summer. So, why not reserve tree trimming for winter?

If you are interested in a winter tree pruning service, contact JT Tree Service at 317-674-2150 to schedule an appointment.

JT Tree Service

12071 E 131st St.

Fishers, In 46037