When it comes to the question, “Which season is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer will likely be indirect.
Tree type will determine when many species are able to be pruned, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees nearby.
With the assistance of a certified arborist in Iowa, you will be able to decide which season is ideal for trimming your trees to prepare them for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other context, IA Tree Trimming recommends trimming trees during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in most areas. Winter is best 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:
Lower risk of pest damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are usually inactive in the winter in Iowa. Throughout the remainder of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly pruned tree because the tree will be the most vulnerable and these issues are more common during warmer weather.
Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves stop your arborist from seeing the complete shape of a tree. When tree branches are bare, it is much easier to see diseased or dead 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 significant pruning in the winter, your trees have several months to build up callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By the spring season, you’ll barely be able to tell where the branches were removed, 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 surrounding trees and plants will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter months since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees will benefit from annual trimming. Tree trimming every winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Healthier
Dying and diseased limbs are cut off, as are branch stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Branches that can rub against one another are also pruned so they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each year is a great way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and pest infestations can be identified and handled as soon as possible.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to get to every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping problems. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, routine trimming each winter will improve the results you want from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming
If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is especially important if you have many identical trees on your property.
Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles improves the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Chance of Dropping Branches
Tree pruning – from an arborist – encourages the remaining tree branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Iowa won’t damage your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety concern for large trees is that they can impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other specialized tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call IA Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Working with a professional arborist in Iowa gives you access to their expert knowledge on tree pruning. We recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist won’t just consider the current situation. Instead, he or she will take the time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and factors that could put them at risk). After collecting all of the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that course of action until your goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan might require many years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This kind of ongoing maintenance will aid in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping fight off plant diseases and enhance flower or fruit production from the trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree trimming will save you a lot of money over time as well. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or restoring a sick tree from 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 trimming and maintenance from IA Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Iowa. Call today!
