Trees that are Best Pruned During Winter

There is a common misconception that pruning during winter is a bad idea or tree care companies rarely take on maintenance jobs during winter. This is quite far from the truth and we dare say that winter is a great time for pruning. Yes, you can quote us anywhere.

Pruning is a tree maintenance practice that involves making the right cuts on a tree to significantly improve its health, safety, and aesthetics. You can tell when it’s time to call the tree pruning service company from the way the leaves cover the branches and roots.

When it comes to tree pruning, not all trees are created equal. For instance, there are certain species that are best pruned during certain times of the year. This article aims to help homeowners identify the best trees to prune during winter.

Oak Trees

The winter months – December, January, and February – are the best time to prune oak trees. Pruning an oak tree during winter helps reduce the risk of an oak wilt infection. Oak wilt is a fungal disease caused by picnic bugs. Early pruning during winter will also help improve the structure and look of the tree.

Dogwood Trees

Dogwood trees are scaly with round-looking leaves and white flowers that bloom during spring. The best time to prune dogwood trees is during winter. When it’s springtime, your dogwood will look healthy and strong.

Hickory Trees

The famed hardwood tree with soft, rounded leaves and unmissable huge nuts (no pun intended) are usually found in the Midwest. There are several subspecies including the sand hickory and bitternut hickory. Winter is a good time to prune any Hickory tree.

Birch Trees

The birch tree is smaller in size than the average tree. Birch trees have long markings on their bark. Pruning birch trees during early winter helps improve sap production during their dormant phase in late winter and springs. There are several subspecies of the Birch tree including the Yellow Birch and Gray Birch.

Benefits of Winter Pruning

Pruning during winter helps prevent the spread of some deadly diseases that trees are more susceptible to contact during summer. When it’s winter, the insects and bacteria that spread these diseases are usually dormant due to the cold. This is the best time to prune.
Dead and dying trees are dangerous in winter, especially when they are covered with so much snow. They can cause trip hazards for you or your loved ones. Pruning focuses on removing dead and diseased wood which helps make the trees safer for you.
Pruning during winter is more cost-effective. Since the ground is mostly frozen during winter, the heavy equipment the tree pruning experts will use is less likely to damage your lands which will reduce associated costs and produce an overall better outcome.
Late winter pruning helps rejuvenate the trees, increase air circulation, and prepare the tree for spring and new growth for the season.

How to Remove a Tree Stump After Pruning

You can remove a tree stump by purchasing a power stump grinder (if you know how to use one). A power stump grinder is a quicker option when compared to the canned tree stump removal. The can version is made of powdered potassium nitrate. The potassium nitrate hastens the rotting process. Simply sprinkle the powder into drilled holes around the stump and fill the holes with water. After four to six weeks, the stump will start rotting and you can break it into little pieces of wood with an axe.

The reality is that winter is a good time to hire a tree pruning expert to help prune your trees and garden. Some types of pruning like pruning fruit trees should be done during the winter to help bolster fruit production.

Steve Martin

I have a profound interest in trees and their natural beauty. I grew up on a hobby farm ten minutes north of Waterloo and spent many winters in the bush collecting firewood to heat our family home. It was definitely work, so I wasn’t always eager as a young boy to help my father and big brother, but I learned to love the process... READ MORE

Your Trees are Our Business