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With all of the snow lately and broken tree branches, I regret not having Sprigs & Twigs prune my trees earlier. Can pruning be done in the winter or do I need to wait until spring? Chris
Answer
Although most trees can
be pruned any time of year, the best time to prune is
now when trees are dormant (especially Apple and
Pear trees).
There are lots of good reasons to prune now.
1) Pruning of deadwood and overhanging branches
needs to be done as soon as possible, so you
don't have issues with downed service lines to your
house or damage to your roof. Selective pruning
can help guard against the tree being overloaded
by a wet snow and totally failing.
2) In the winter, the chance of bacterial and
fungal diseases or insect damage is much lower and it's
easier for a tree to recover from pruning.
3) When a tree's leaves are gone, it is easier for the
arborist to see flaws, rubbing branches, overall
growth patterns and the tree's structure.
4) When the ground is frozen, bucket trucks and
equipment access is much easier.
5) This is the perfect time for Apple and Pear tree
pruning because the chilling requirements for these
trees have been met. The trees have been at a
temperature below 45 degrees for at least a month so
that they have sufficiently transferred their energy
stores down into their roots; basically these trees
need to be fully dormant for pruning.
When it comes to pruning, trimming or bracing,
only use a company with an arborist licensed by
CT DEEP - it's Connecticut State law. There are
good reasons for it. Licensed arborists undergo
extensive training and must pass a rigorous
test - they know what they are doing. Ask to see their
license and make sure it's issued by CT DEEP.
There is a great deal of damage being done by people
who buy a chain saw and claim to be knowledgeable
but aren't. Trees damaged by incorrect pruning
may never recover structurally and often die many
years before their time. Sprigs & Twigs has two
licensed arborists, a fully trained staff and top
quality equipment. Call us for any of your tree
needs - pruning, removals, fertilization, cabling
and bracing and stump grinding.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
