Planting and growing trees in your backyard is one of the best things you can do for your home. Like anything worthwhile in life though, healthy trees require effort – they don’t just grow and maintain themselves! The care and attention you provide your trees will ensure that they stay healthy for many years to come. One of the most frequently required aspects of maintaining a tree is trimming, or pruning it. The general consensus is that trees should only be pruned in wintertime when there are no leaves or buds on the branches that can hinder the process. Sometimes, however, your tree may grow to a point where it needs to be pruned during the springtime – is this a good idea? The short answer is that it depends, but a reputable Central Florida tree pruning company can answer this question for the specific tree variety on your property.
Why is Pruning Trees Necessary?
There are times when pruning becomes very important, and there are also many reasons to support that you shouldn’t delay pruning due to the season. While some individuals believe pruning is only an aesthetic process, essentially trimming a tree to enhance its visual beauty, there are actually many more serious reasons for tree pruning. A few of these reasons include:
Dead Branches Can Pose a Risk
It’s normal for a few tree branches to decay over time. However, these dead branches will eventually fall when they reach a certain level of decay, putting your property, vehicles, and family at potential risk of damage or injury. Pruning a tree proactively can eliminate these branches before they have the chance to fall and put anything or anyone at risk.
Balancing Tree Growth
Trees that are not trimmed or pruned will likely become overgrown eventually, and they can give your entire backyard a messy look. Pruning a tree allows you to keep its growth proportioned and, to some extent, adjust the size and shape according to your preference.
Promoting Tree Health
When a tree’s branches are decaying, it obstructs the growth of new branches and buds. Getting rid of these decaying or dead branches can pave the way for further growth of healthy branches and saplings on your tree.
Pruning in the Springtime- Can You Do it?
It is believed that if you prune trees in springtime, you’re exposing them to tree diseases and pests, making the tree wither and decay. While that happens in some scenarios, the rule isn’t set on stone. You can prune your trees in the springtime as well, but only if you’re following certain precautions. While you can prune trees yourself, it’s better to hire a tree pruning company that can do it effectively to get the burden off your shoulders.
When is Springtime Pruning Necessary?
The spring season is the optimal time for trees to bloom flowers and grow new branches. Therefore, if you need to prune your trees during springtime, you can end up putting them at risk if you trim them excessively. Arborists recommend that you only prune 10% of your trees’ branches during springtime. Moreover, pruning should be done only when required, including circumstances with decaying branches or cases where your tree is spreading into an area of your property and becoming a nuisance. An example of this would be branches extending towards your home and brushing up against the roof or other surfaces.
Excessive pruning can lead to a delay in continued tree growth and flower bud blooming, which can last up to an entire year until next spring. Another reason pruning during springtime needs to be done carefully is because too much pruning can cause wounds on the tree. This makes the tree more vulnerable to pest infections and diseases, further affecting its health and growth.
Which Tree Varieties Can You Prune in Springtime?
Some trees are better adapted for pruning during the springtime than others. For instance, young saplings, or trees you have recently planted and are only beginning to sprout, can benefit immensely from this. During the sprouting period, you can control the tree’s overall shape by pruning it to your liking. Young saplings that are left unpruned during this growth period will sprawl out naturally and randomly, and you will have less control over the tree’s overall shape as time goes on.
Additionally, there are several tree varieties that excrete sap when pruned during the winter season. These varieties include maple, walnut, and birch trees. The sap doesn’t pose any harm to you or the tree, but pruning during this time can make the process messy and more time-consuming. Thus, many people opt for pruning these varieties of trees in the springtime.
Which Tree Varieties Should You Avoid Pruning in Springtime?
Again, since pruning trees in the springtime can cause them to become more vulnerable to diseases and pests, it’s not always recommended to prune during spring. Some trees are increasingly prone to these conditions which can pose serious damage to their health. It is important to consider the level of urgency prior to pruning trees that are susceptible to these weaknesses in the springtime. Some of these tree varieties include oak trees, elm trees, sycamore trees, and honeylocust trees, among some others.
The Verdict
If you don’t prune trees on time, that can cause many consequences that you wouldn’t want. Therefore, you must prune your backyard trees, but in the season ideal for that specific variety. Tree pruning isn’t just grabbing the equipment and going for it. It takes a lot more to perfect tree pruning. Hence, if you’re unsure about pruning your trees, get a professional to determine the right factors to get the job done.