Should you trim your trees during the chillier months? It might seem counterintuitive, but winter in Georgia is actually perfect for pruning.
As the tree service Putney, GA, residents trust, we at Green Acres Tree Service know a thing or two about proper arboreal care. Keep reading to learn more about winter pruning and its benefits.
What Is Dormant Pruning?
Deciduous trees enter a resting phase called dormancy by the time winter arrives. Think of it as your tree’s “energy conservation” mode. Even evergreen varieties slow their growth during this time.
Dormancy is the main reason experts recommend pruning during winter. Since there’s little to no active growth, the specimen can focus its resources on healing properly after the pruning.
Winter Pruning Benefits for Trees
A more efficient recovery is just the tip of the iceberg for your tree’s cold-season pruning benefits. Here are a few more reasons to prune in winter:
Easier Tree Assessments
It’s almost impossible to see a tree’s structure when the branches are full of leaves. Dense foliage can hide problem areas, like weak branches or crossing limbs. Planning the right cuts also becomes tricky.
Fortunately, trees naturally drop their leaves when the cold months arrive. Spots that need attention show up right away.
Minimized Pests and Disease Exposure
Diseases like oak wilt, fire blight, and cedar hawthorn rust are super active during the growing season. Always conduct winter pruning for vulnerable varieties like oaks and elms. Otherwise, the disease can spread quickly or even kill the tree.
Critters like borers and beetles hibernate in winter, too. Winter trims reduce the risk of attracting them to fresh cuts.
A Safer, More Efficient Process
The ground becomes slightly harder in winter. This helps in a few ways, including:
- Moving around won’t create as much soil compaction, which protects your landscape from lasting damage.
- Heavy equipment won’t leave deep tracks, either, so your grass stays intact.
Winter tree-pruning cleanup is easier, too. You only have to clear away branches, no piles of leaves.
Effective Winter Tree Maintenance for Better Spring Growth
Prune during the spring, and you may end up limiting the tree’s bloom potential for the next year. It could even skip flowering and fruiting altogether unless a winter session gives your tree a head start.
Pruning helps trees direct all their energy into producing vibrant growth when the weather warms up. You should see stronger branches and healthier blooms.
Basic Tips for Tree Pruning in Winter
Arborists follow these steps to guarantee great pruning results:
- Use clean, sharp shears, loppers, or saws.
- Remove diseased, broken, or dead branches.
- Cut downward-growing and entangled branches.
- Remove suckers.
- Cut close to the branch collar or limb base.
And remember, never remove more than 25% of the tree’s branches at once.
Dependable Winter Tree Care Specialists in Putney, GA
Not all tree varieties thrive on winter pruning. Some bleed sap heavily when cut during the colder months, so let Green Acres Tree Service help!
Call (229) 881-2538 today. We can also share the basics of pruning an overgrown apple tree in Putney, Georgia.
