Tree Care Basics: A Starter Guide

When Is The Best Time To Trim Your Trees?

9 November 2021

Johnni Knight

By now, you already know that tree trimming is important for maintaining healthy trees, improving aesthetics, increasing productivity, and view enhancement. But perhaps you're wondering which time of the year is best to trim your trees. 

Generally, there is never a wrong time to eliminate diseased, damaged, or dead branches. But your tree may benefit more from trimming in some months than others. Keep reading to learn more about tree care. 

Tree Trimming in Winter

Many property owners don't think winter should be an active season for trees. But winters may be the best time of the year to trim your trees. When the weather is cold, trees go dormant, and there are fewer leaves, making it easier to visualize the branch structure accurately. Also, trees generally heal faster during this period. 

It's crucial that all trimming is completed before the warm weather sets in to ensure you're not eliminating new growth. When everything is done correctly, your trees will utilize all their valuable energy to produce healthy new growth during the warm weather. 

Tree Trimming in Spring and Summer

Trimming your trees in the early spring can bring good results when it's done before they have finished producing their leaves. At this stage, the problematic, dead, or diseased branches are removed since it's evident they'll not be producing any flowers or leaves. 

Summer tree trimming isn't common because it's difficult to identify problematic branches when the leaves have fully covered the trees. However, you can still hire an arborist to check if there are weakened branches and remove them. Also, if you have spring-flowering trees, trimming them in the summer is advisable for the development of more flower buds. 

Another good fit for summer trimming is those trees that produce a lot of sap. These include maples, walnuts, elms, walnuts, and birches. During the summer, the sticky sap is less, making it easier to trim them than in other seasons. 

Tree Trimming in Fall

Trimming your trees in fall is generally discouraged by most tree experts. If you're having a warm fall, removing branches may encourage new growth, which will not survive when temperatures drop. 

Additionally, most trees are going into dormancy during this season, so cuts take an extended period to heal. Trees with fungal diseases may also release lots of spores after trimming; thus, spreading the infections. 

Exceptions to the Rule: Early and Late Blooming Trees

While the best time to trim most trees may be during winters, this doesn't apply to all tree species. For example, early blooming trees like apricot, ornamental cherry, magnolia, and chokecherry set their buds based on the previous year's growth. If you trim them over the winter, they won't bloom. 

Late-blooming trees such as dogwood, catalpa, and hawthorn bloom in early summer or late spring. These trees should be trimmed in early spring for proper blooming. Overall, if you're not an expert on tree species, call an arborist to inspect your trees and determine if trimming is needed. 

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