When it comes to the question, “Which season is best for tree trimming?” The answer will likely be indirect.
Tree type dictates when many species can be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other species of plants and trees nearby.
With the guidance of a professional arborist in New Hampshire, you will be able to determine which season is ideal for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other context, NH Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in most areas. Winter is optimal because trees are mostly dormant, so trimming will lead to a minimal amount of damage, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees in the winter:
Less risk of pest damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are usually inactive in the winter in New Hampshire. During the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly trimmed tree because the tree will be the most susceptible and these issues thrive when there is warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves stop your arborist from seeing the overall shape of your tree. When the tree branches are bare, it is a lot easier to identify 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 major tree trimming in the winter, your trees have several months to rebuild callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring, you’ll barely be able to identify where the branches were trimmed, 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 nearby landscape – Most of the nearby trees and plants will also be dormant during this time, so there is less risk of them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter months since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Trimming?
Yes, all trees will benefit from annual trimming. Tree pruning each winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family. Let us explain:
Pruning Makes the Tree Stronger
Dead and diseased limbs are cut off, as are branch stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Branches that can rub against each other are also pruned so they don’t weaken each other or cause an open wound on the tree.
Pruning trees each year is a great way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect problems can be spotted and responded to immediately.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes overgrown, it’s hard for water and nutrients to reach every branch. This can leave the tree looking scraggly and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and offer better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping issues. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, pruning each winter will improve the results you want from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Pruning
If the view of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is a necessity! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is important if you have a lot of identical trees on your property.
Eliminating lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles enhances the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Risk of Falling Branches
Tree trimming – done the right way – helps the remaining branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in New Hampshire won’t damage your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety concern for large trees is that they can impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call NH Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Working with a professional arborist in New Hampshire gives you access to their expert knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for a long time.
An arborist doesn’t just look at the current situation. Instead, an experienced arborist will take the time to inspect your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that may 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 plan until the goals for your trees are met.
This plan might take many years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.
This kind of annual maintenance will aid in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping fight off plant diseases and increase flower or fruit production from trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree trimming can save you a lot of money as well. Preventative maintenance is much more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage restoration 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 pruning and maintenance from NH Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of New Hampshire. Call today!
