When it comes to the question, “Which season is best for tree trimming?” The answer will likely be vague.
Tree type will determine when many species are able to be trimmed, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other species of plants and trees in the yard.
With the assistance of a professional arborist in Illinois, you will be able to determine what time of year is optimal for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and beyond.
Best Season to Prune Trees
Without any other context, IL Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees in the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in Illinois. Winter is optimal because the trees are usually dormant, so pruning will cause the least amount of damage, if any.
There are many benefits to trimming trees during the winter:
Lower chance of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are usually inactive during the winter in Illinois. During the rest of the year, everything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly trimmed tree because the tree will be the most susceptible and these issues thrive in warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves get in the way of your arborist from seeing the complete shape of a tree. When the tree branches are bare, it is a lot easier to see dead or diseased branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees can heal before spring – By performing major pruning during the winter, your trees have several months to rebuild callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring, you’ll hardly be able to tell where the branches were removed, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging nearby landscaping – Most of the nearby trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is less risk of doing damage to them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer months, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Pruning?
Yes, all trees benefit from annual pruning. Tree pruning each winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Pruning Makes the Tree Healthier
Dead and diseased limbs are cut off, as are stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub one another are also trimmed so they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each year is also a good way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect infestations can be identified and dealt with immediately.
A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to get to every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.
Trimmed trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and 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 Beautiful After Pruning
If the curb appeal of your landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Pruning trees gives them an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is important if you have a lot of identical trees on your property.
Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles enhances the overall look of the tree while also strengthening tree health.
Less Chance of Falling Branches
Tree trimming – done the right way – encourages the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t affect your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety issue for overgrown trees is that they impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and prevent it from blocking various views.
Call IL Tree Trimming for Tree Trimming
Hiring a professional arborist in Illinois gives you access to their expert knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We strongly recommend relying on their expertise if there are trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist won’t only consider the current situation. Instead, he or she will take the time to inspect your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and factors that could put them at risk of disease or infestation). After collecting all the information, an arborist will suggest a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until the goals for your trees are met.
This plan could require years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.
This type of ongoing care will promote healthy tree growth, help your landscaping fight off plant diseases and improve fruit or flower production from trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree care can save you a lot of money too. Preventative maintenance is much more cost-effective than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or restoring a sick tree of a disease that has gotten out of control (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the curb appeal of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree trimming and maintenance from IL Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Illinois. Call today!
