There are many reasons to prune your trees, but the trick is knowing when you should prune your trees. One reason is to maintain the health of your trees and encourage proper growth. Most importantly, however, is making your trees safe and being proactive in preventing property damage in advance of storms when they are predicted for your area.

Protect Your Home and Property

If your trees have large broken, hanging or decaying limbs, you should consider calling for professional tree trimming services instead of attempting to remove them yourself. Fallen limbs can damage your home, cars, or fall on those passing by if shaken loose from wind and present a dangerous situation.

Decaying limbs can threaten the structural integrity of your trees. Disease or insect infestation can travel into the tree’s trunk and cause extensive damage that may result in the need for tree removal.

When to Prune Established Trees

All trees can be lightly trimmed throughout the year to improve their appearance and promote annual flowering. It is recommended that large shade trees such as hickory and oaks be trimmed during their dormant period or after a growth spurt. You will want to avoid pruning them as they are coming out of or entering there dormant period.

Evergreens such as holly and boxwood can be pruned anytime during the year. If you want to stimulate growth, prune right before the first expected spring growth flush or during the late summer on some species. Alternatively, continued pruning after each growth flush can help slow down growth and create a dwarfing effect.

To prevent what is referred to as the “bleeding” of sap, you will want to prune trees such dogwoods, birch, or maple during the end of fall or the beginning of winter. The bleed of sap will generally occur between the end of winter and beginning of spring and will not harm the tree, but it may attract insects.

Don’t Rush to Prune New Trees and Transplants

You should wait at least two years before beginning to trim new trees. Pruning can help control the growth and improve the structural strength of the new tree. Transplanted trees should only be pruned at the time of planting to improve the health of the tree by removing diseased, dead or broken branches. Regular pruning can resume after one year of the transplant.

When it comes to the best care for your trees in the Dunedin, FL, area, the first place to turn is Warner Tree Service for all your needed tree trimming services including tree pruning and tree removal. We can help keep your trees healthy all year long and protect your property from additional storm damage. Give us a call anytime!