The best time of year to trim a given tree depends on the tree’s species as well as your goal for the trimming process. Most tree varieties should be trimmed after freezing temperatures have hit but before the first thaw. With winter approaching, you should start identifying your trees’ trimming needs. Contact your local tree trimming service to help you safely care for your trees.
Landowners near Strasburg, VA, can trust Timber Works as their preferred tree trimming company. Timber Works is a liability-insured tree care company that offers extensive residential and commercial tree services. We focus on safety, professionalism, and honest communication. Moreover, our company has memberships in both The International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association for up-to-date knowledge in tree care.
Below, we outline general information about tree trimming and discuss how you can determine when to trim your trees:
Tree Trimming Benefits
Tree cutting and trimming improve the health and appearance of trees. Removing dead or diseased branches, as well as branches that rub together, contributes to these plants’ health by preserving their nutrients for productive growth.
Also, thinning a tree’s canopy improves its health by allowing more light to penetrate the tree’s limbs, decreasing its risk of disease. Removing unbalanced or uneven limbs can improve its appearance too.
Other benefits of tree trimming deal with the tree’s surroundings. Trimmed trees can improve your property’s value as well as decrease the risk of damage and injury from decay or severe weather.
Why Certain Trees Benefit from Winter Trimming
There are a few reasons why some trees benefit from winter trimming. First, most trees go dormant during winter, during which their metabolism and growth rate slow. Dormant trees suffer less “shock” when trimmed compared to their active counterparts.
Second, trees are less susceptible to disease when trimmed during winter, bugs are absent and cannot infect the tree’s wounds. Third, you can more readily trim and see a tree’s shape and weak limbs when it is not covered in foliage.
Trees That Should Be Trimmed During Winter
Evergreen trees, such as fir and spruce, and shade trees, such as oak and elm, should be trimmed during winter dormancy. Also, trees that sap heavily or whose crowns require heavy trimming should be trimmed during winter.
The cold winter temperatures prevent trees from losing excess moisture when trimmed. Higher moisture retention allows for more vigorous growth in the upcoming spring.
Trees that flower in the late spring should also be trimmed during winter. A winter pruning will prepare these trees for growing new wood, which their late-spring blossoms can bloom from.
Trees That Do Not Follow the Winter-Trimming Rule
Trees that flower in early spring, such as dogwood and redwood, should not be trimmed during winter. Instead, do so during late spring or early summer after their blossoms have faded.
Trees with diseased or decaying limbs are often exceptions to winter trimming as well. If you have trees showing these signs, you should get an inspection by Timber Works as soon as possible. Those trees may require immediate trimming.
Trees Whose Optimal Trimming Season Depends on Age
Some trees, including red maples, have fluctuating trimming periods throughout their lives. For instance, red maples store pressure-building sap during winter, and trimming can cause excessive sap. Instead, younger red maples should be trimmed during summer. It’s okay to prune mature red maple trees during winter, as they can withstand the loss of some sap.
Timber Works: Professional Tree Trimming Services in Strasburg, VA
Not comfortable trimming trees on your property? Need help identifying the specific needs of your trees? Timber Works offers insured tree trimming services for both commercial and residential properties near Strasburg, VA. We specialize in a variety of other services from tree removal to land clearing and forestry mulching. Contact us today for more information at (540)-692-9606.
