In case you are counting, the first day of spring is just 30 days away. We’ve put together some tips to guide you when it comes to general tree pruning. Ideally, you should be pruning trees before they begin to grow, if possible. In the industry, we call that dormant pruning. If dormant pruning is not possible, you can still prune, but you will need to be cautious when pruning trees that have already started blooming.
In addition, pruning trees that have already started budding can result in limited growth and blooms in the coming year. Consequently, pruning trees after they have begun to grow, leave them vulnerable to those pesky bugs, giving them more of an opportunity to take up residence.
CAN I DO ANY TREE PRUNING IN THE SPRING?
Yes, you can still do some pruning in the spring, but our advice would be to call our certified arborists at Sharp Tree Service, if you have not pruned trees previously. If you do decide on DIY spring pruning, make sure that the branch removal and pruning is minimal. Remember, minimal pruning is better than no pruning at all, but excessive pruning can lead to bigger issues. Our team at Sharp Tree Services are pruning experts, so when you are ready call us for a free consultation.
WHY SHOULD I PRUNE TREES AT ALL DURING THE SPRING?
There are a couple of reasons why you may need to prune in the spring. Your goals with spring pruning should be:
Pruning for safety: Overgrowth can cause damaged or deceased tree limbs to fall, posing a potential risk of damage to your residence. Examples include roofing, fencing, and other residential property. Therefore, if your trees are showing any signs of overgrowth in the spring, it’s would be best to remove any dead, dying or decaying branches to keep your tree (and home) safe.
Minimal pruning for aesthetics: This would involve reducing the tree’s canopy by cutting or removing any branches to shape your tree a bit. A good rule of thumb would be, don’t remove any more than 10 percent of the tree’s branches.
Having these goals in mind when spring pruning will be helpful. However, as stated before, dormant pruning or pruning before the tree grows is the best time to prune, which is before the onset of spring. This is the best way to avoid limiting the tree’s bloom potential for the year and creating an environment for an insect infestation or disease.
ARE THERE ANY TREES THAT ARE BETTER TO PRUNE IN SPRING?
Yes! If you’ve just planted a new tree, cut off any broken, defected or damaged limbs, then learn to prune young trees to improve their growth and structure.
You can also prune maple, walnut and birch trees in late spring or early summer. When pruned in winter, they tend to ooze sap. The sap does little to no harm, but some people think it’s too messy! Trimming these trees after they have all their leaves for the season reduces sap bleeding.
And, finally, prune these trees once they’re done blooming for the season in spring:
- Apricot trees
- Chokecherry trees
- Juneberry trees
- Lilac trees
- Flowering cherry trees
- Flowering plum trees
- Crabapple trees
- Dogwood trees
- Magnolia trees
- Juneberry trees
- Lilac trees
- Magnolia trees
ARE THERE ANY TREES I SHOULD NEVER PRUNE OR TRIM IN SPRING?
Remember: pruning trees in spring can leave them more vulnerable to insect infestation and diseases. That’s why you don’t want to prune these trees in spring, summer or early fall:
- Oak trees
- Honeylocust
- Sycamore trees
- Elm trees
With it being countdown to spring, time is of the essence if you need of tree pruning. If all of this sounds like too much effort call Sharp Tree Service, your friendly local Tree Company.
The experts at Sharp Tree service can handle all your pruning needs. Servicing customers living in Cumming, Roswell, Crabapple, Milton, Woodstock, Duluth, and Johns Creek, Georgia. Call us for your free consultation today at (770) 428-2543.
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