Learn / Ask The Landscape Professional
Would it be good to have Sprigs & Twigs prune my trees now or should I call you in the spring?
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). The absolute worst time
to prune is in the spring just after a tree leafs-out.
There are lots of good reasons to prune now.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. When the ground is frozen, bucket trucks and equipment access is much easier.
4. 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.
5. Tree crews generally have a smaller backlog in the wintertime, so your job can get done
quicker than other times of the year
When it comes to pruning, trimming or bracing, only use a company with an Arborist
licensed by CT DEEP - its Connecticut State law. Ask to see the license; make sure it's
issued by CT DEEP. There is a great deal of damage being done by tree companies who
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 a licensed arborist, fully trained staff and top quality equipment, call us
for any tree needs or any questions you have.
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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.
