When you think of doing work in the yard, you usually don’t picture yourself doing it in late fall or winter. But actually, that’s just the right time for certain tasks.

You might already know that trimming trees regularly can promote healthier growth, keep them looking nicer, and reduce the risk of breakage or falls (and damage to your home). But you might not have realized that late fall or winter is the best time to perform this type of maintenance, for three main reasons…

Lower risk of damage from pests. Trimming trees leaves them with a “wound”. And while these wounds do heal, they can be vulnerable to certain problems in the meantime. If you trim trees in the hot summer months when more pests are present, you’re practically inviting them to infect your trees. That’s why we usually recommend tree trimming in the cooler months, when certain pests are dead or dormant. If they’re not lurking around, they’re less likely to infect vulnerable spots on trees and cause a problem.

It’s easier to trim them now. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall, so as we head into winter they’re looking “naked”. This helps us to spot which areas need to be removed or trimmed back, and you can get a good look at the tree’s structure. When leaves grow back in the spring, you’ll enjoy a nicely shaped, symmetrical tree with plenty of air flow to allow for optimal health.

Trimming trees now will accelerate growth in the spring. Trim your trees during their dormant season, so that they aren’t stressed by trying to both grow and heal at the same time. Your trees will enjoy a nice rush of growth when spring arrives, after their wounds have healed slowly over winter.

It’s easy to see why late fall or winter are the best times to trim trees. But if you have any other questions about the process, or what is right for your particular situation, give us a call. We’ll take a look and then advise you on how to proceed with trimming your trees.