Can You Prune Trees in Winter?

Now that the holidays are all over, all that’s left until Valentine’s and St. Pat’s is the winter season. Fortunately, that gives us plenty of time to get around to our other homeowner duties, like tree care. Right now is the perfect time to prune your landscaping trees if you want to ensure strong and abundant growth next season. However, many are afraid to do too much with their dormant trees this time of year in fear that they may do some damage. The truth is, tree dormancy is the best time to prune trees.

Continue reading to learn why, and for some more winter tree care pruning tips you will need.

Indianapolis Tree Pruning
Indianapolis Tree Pruning 317-783-2518

Trimming vs. Pruning

There are many reasons to trim a tree. Trimming down foliage and branches can eliminate obstacles and obstructions, improve look, produce ornamental appeal, and deliver certain functions, like privacy or shade. However, tree pruning is another story. The purpose of pruning trees is to jump start spring growth spurts, as well as, render fuller, brighter, more balanced growth.

When to Prune

The best time to prune a tree is in winter when they are dormant and have little to no foliage. Not only does this allow better manageability, bark and tissue wounds recover faster, far before new growth can begin. In spring and summer when tree growth is active, open wounds from pruning are at higher risk of developing infections, pest infestations, and more. These developments can quickly cause a full decline in tree health, even with treatment. Furthermore, trees require more water when they are healing, which can make spring or summer pruning problematic since the tree is active and already needs water. This might leave a tree without enough water.

How to Prune

Pruning is a delicate practice that requires astute knowledge and skill that is only achievable through years of experience. For this reason, you need a professional and seasoned Indianapolis tree care contractor to prune trees properly. A single incorrect cut can cause an entire tree to die, making professional service non-negotiable.

Indianapolis Tree Care and Pruning Service

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for professional Indianapolis tree trimming and pruning services you can trust. We are an experienced and reputable Central Indiana tree care company that offers a wide range of tree services for both residential and commercial properties, including tree removal, stump removal, lot clearing, and more. We even offer free estimates and free tree care advice!

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518

Can I Trim Dead Branches Off a Tree in Summer?

Tree pruning and trimming are two separate types of tree services, but both equally critical to a tree’s overall well-being. We know that tree pruning should be done at certain times of the year in order to protect trees from pest infestations, disease, and wildlife tampering. However, homeowners continuously have questions and concerns about trimming trees throughout each season. This is especially true for trees that have some unsightly dead limbs or branches. You may be quite tempted to just snip these dead areas off, but at the same time, concerned that it can negatively impact the health of your tree.

If you are wondering whether or not it is safe to trim dead branches off of your landscaping trees in the summer, continue reading to learn what you need to know.

Indianapolis Tree Service 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Service 317-783-2518

Tree Pruning Guidelines

When it comes to pruning trees, it is critical to adhere to the ANSI A300 tree pruning standards to ensure tree protection and growth. These are the industry-accepted best practices that should be used by all who prune trees and shrubs. To carry out such standards in tree pruning, one needs to be trained and experienced.

Otherwise, one wrong cut can cause a tree to eventually fall ill and die. For these reasons, tree pruning should only be executed by a licensed tree service contractor who retains the proper knowledge and equipment. See our blog, “Can I Prune My Trees Yet?” to learn some important tips and facts about tree pruning.

Dead Limb and Branch Removal

Tree pruning should be implemented when trees are in their dormant, non-growing state. Generally, dormancy begins in late fall and lasts until early spring, making this timeline the best rule of thumb to follow. However, there are exceptions when it comes to dead branches and limbs.

You can remove these at any time of the year without causing any potential harm or damage to your trees so long as you wait until the foliage has fully bloomed in the canopy. Once a tree has emerged all of its leaves, you can remove dead branches and bunches as soon as you see them to prevent insects and decayed organisms from entering the tree.

Another important reminder is to avoid trimming or pruning trees in periods of hot or dry spells, and extreme cold. If you have maple and dogwood trees, you may want to hold off on trimming away dead branches until they are in dormancy. This is due to the fact that these species of tree emit sap during these times, which can be messy. See our article, “How to Clean Tree Sap Off Stuff” if this ever becomes an issue for you.

Get Professional Tree Service in Indianapolis

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for prompt and professional Indianapolis tree service you can trust. We are experienced tree care technicians that can resolve your tree problems, regardless of your projects size or scope. We offer a wide range of tree removal and tree services, for both residential and commercial properties. We even offer free estimates and free tree care advice!

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518

Can I Prune My Trees Yet?

If you look at our local weather forecasts, it seems as though the temperatures are slowly rising. This has many of us anticipating and early spring. With milder weather, you may be eager to get a jump-start on all your spring landscaping preparations, such as trimming, transplanting, and even planting. But before you do, it is wise to ask yourself whether or not it’s still too early in the year to prune, especially when it comes to your landscaping trees.

Continue reading to learn the recommended best practices for tree trimming and seasonal tree care.

Indianapolis Tree Pruning 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Pruning 317-783-2518

Benefits of Tree Pruning

Tree pruning is a common tree maintenance practice that is used to stimulate new, strong growth, and to eliminate overgrown limbs. Pruning provides a wide range of benefits, for both trees and people. Not only does it reduce hazardous obstructions and allow for easier entry onto a premises, pruning also promotes vigor and growth, making trees stronger and healthier for many years. It also makes trees look better! See our article, “Why is it Important to Prune Trees?” to learn more about the various advantages of tree pruning.

Routine tree trimming and pruning are important for these reasons, but it is equally important to be sure it is does properly. Improper pruning can cause irreversible damage to a tree, and even lead to total decline. In the professional tree care industry, tree service contractors adhere to strict ANSI A300 tree pruning standards to ensure tree protection and growth.

Crown and Canopy Thinning

Compared to tree pruning, crown thinning is a practice used to selectively remove limbs and branches from only the canopy of hardwood trees for the purpose of increasing light penetration and air movement throughout the canopy. This increases the density of the foliage, and renders a fuller, prettier tree. Crown thinning is a delicate and dangerous service that should only be implemented by a trained professional. Aside from danger, improper crown thinning can kill a tree.

When to Prune Trees

The best time of year to prune trees is when they are still dormant. Although you can remove weak, diseased, or dead limbs any time during the year with little to no effect on a tree, full-on pruning should only be carried out before spring growth begins. This means that right now is the perfect time to have your trees pruned! Trees should be pruned once a year by a licensed and insured tree care company that provides ANSI A300 tree pruning services. Be sure to ask whether or not they adhere to such standards before doing business.

Trusted Tree Pruning Services in Indianapolis

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for experienced Indianapolis tree service you can trust. We offer a wide range of residential and commercial tree pruning services, including tree removal, trimming, pruning, crown thinning, canopy reduction, hazard assessments, and more. Call 317-783-2518 to request a free estimate, today.

Is it a Good Time to Trim My Tree?

There are certainly ideal times of the year for tree trimming. And if you want healthy results and long-lasting trees, you must do it right. Professionals recommend adhering to the industry best practices suggested by the American National Standards Institute. These standards are known as ANSI A300, and they are highly effective guidelines for tree pruning.

Continue reading to learn when you should trim your trees, and if now is a good time to get started.

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518

Prune Trees Before Spring

It is important to prune trees because it promotes new healthy growth in the spring. For this reason, the best time to prune trees are when they are dormant, which is during the winter. During dormancy, trees are not growing, but they are still alive. This, coupled with the fact that winter time poses less of a risk of pest and wildlife interference, is why tree pruning is most effective in the winter season.

This does not mean that trees should be pruned when temperatures are below freezing and snow is covering the ground. Instead, you want to wait until the coldest parts of winter are over. Therefore, NOW is the perfect time to prune your landscaping trees!

Do Not Miss Your Window of Opportunity

If you wait until spring or summer to trim trees, it can put them at a higher risk of pest infestations, bark damages, unhealed tree wounds, and overall tree decline that can last the rest of the tree’s life. If you wait until fall to trim trees, it can lead to slower healing, which can put them at risk of being infected by airborne decay-causing fungi and/or insects.

Exceptions to the Rule

Flowering trees that bloom in the mid-to-late summer may get by with spring-time pruning since their blossoms appear so late in the year. However, trees that blossom their flowers in the spring should always be pruned as soon as their flowers disappear. That usually occurs between the late summer and early fall. It is best to always discuss your tree pruning needs and options with a trusted Indianapolis tree service expert for professional advice.

Indianapolis Tree Pruning

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for experienced Indianapolis tree trimming and pruning you can trust. We offer a wide range of residential and commercial tree work, including tree removal, trimming, pruning, stump removal, lot clearing, and more. Call 317-783-2518 to request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518

Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518