When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree trimming?” The answer can be indirect.
Tree type dictates when many species are able to be trimmed, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees in the yard.
With the assistance of a certified arborist in New Mexico, you can figure out which time of year is ideal for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Prune Trees
Without any other context, NM Tree Trimming recommends trimming trees in the winter. This ranges from November to March in most areas. This season is best because trees are mostly dormant, so pruning will lead to a minimal amount of harm, if any.
There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees in the winter:
Less risk of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are largely inactive in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can harm a freshly trimmed tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.
Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves stop your arborist from seeing the complete shape of the tree. When tree branches are bare, it is a lot easier to see diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.
Trees have time to heal before spring – By doing this significant tree trimming during the winter, your trees will have several months to build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring, you’ll barely be able to tell where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.
Less chance of harming nearby landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant, so there is less risk of them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Trimming?
Yes, all trees benefit from routine pruning. Tree pruning every winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Stronger
Dying and diseased limbs are cut off, as are stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Branches that can rub one another are also pruned so that they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each winter is a great way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and pest infestations can be spotted and dealt with right away.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to reach every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping issues. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, routine trimming each winter will maximize the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Attractive After Pruning
If the view of your landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is important if you have a lot of similar trees on your property.
Eliminating lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles improves the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.
Less Chance of Dropping Branches
Tree pruning – done the right way – helps the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t affect your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around trimmed trees.
Another safety concern for overgrown trees is that they can block the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call NM Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Working with a certified arborist in New Mexico gives you access to their knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We strongly recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist doesn’t just consider the current situation. Instead, an arborist will take time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that could put them at risk). After gathering all the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until your goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan could take years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.
This kind of ongoing care will result in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping resist plant diseases and enhance flower or fruit production from your trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.
Being proactive about tree trimming will save you a lot of money as well. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or curing a sick tree of a disease that has spread out of control (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the curb appeal of your landscaping, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from NM Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of New Mexico. Call today!
