When is the Best Time to Prune Trees?

Published On: February 23rd, 20232.3 min read

At Arbortech Tree, we frequently get questions about the best time to prune trees. Well, here’s our answer. Enjoy the 2-minute read.

Pruning is a crucial aspect of tree maintenance. It involves removing parts of a tree, such as branches and leaves, to promote healthy growth and maintain the tree’s overall shape. Pruning can also help prevent the spread of disease and pest infestations. However, knowing when to prune a tree is as important as knowing how to prune it.

The best time to prune trees depends on several factors, including the type of tree, the reason for pruning, and the climate of the area where the tree is located. Trees can be pruned at any time of the year, but some seasons are better than others.

Spring is a great time to prune most trees. During this season, trees are actively growing, and the wounds caused by pruning will heal quickly. Pruning during the spring promotes new growth and enhances the tree’s overall shape. However, if the tree blooms in the spring, it’s best to wait until after the blooms have faded before pruning. Maple trees may also drip sap if pruned in the spring. Even though this is merely a cosmetic effect and doesn’t harm the tree, it is something to consider.

Although tolerated by many trees, summer pruning is a less desirable time to prune some species, such as oak and fruit trees. The warmer environment makes these trees more vulnerable to disease and insect infestations.

Fall is an excellent time to prune, especially for trees and shrubs that bloom in the summer or fall. Pruning during the fall can help remove dead or damaged branches before winter sets in. However, it’s important to avoid pruning trees susceptible to winter damage because it can encourage new growth that is more vulnerable to winter cold.

Winter pruning is also an option. Pruning during the winter can benefit certain tree species, especially fruit trees. Late winter pruning will promote new growth and protect it from insect damage since most pests are dormant, increasing fruit production. Regardless of the season, it’s worth mentioning that dead and dangerous limbs can and should be pruned as soon as they are identified.

Lastly, proper pruning techniques are essential to ensure the tree’s health and longevity. Use clean, sharp tools, and avoid removing more than a quarter of the tree’s foliage at once. Identifying the tree’s growth habits and pruning accordingly is also crucial.

In conclusion, the best time to prune trees depends on various factors, such as the tree species, the reason for pruning, and the climate.

Proper pruning techniques are essential for promoting the tree’s health and longevity. If you need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to ask for a free estimate on your tree-trimming project!

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Kyle LeDonne
Kyle LeDonne
2023-07-07
Fast, friendly service, definitely recommended. Great follow through, work was completed on time and with minimal damage to the lawn. Lindsey and Justin were awesome!
Ann Caranci
Ann Caranci
2023-06-20
We had the A-team on our big job of 14+ trees (13 dead ash) in 3 different areas of our property, none of which were particularly easy to get to. With the added bonus of having drainage throughout the yard and avoiding the septic tank. I had 3 other companies come and look, one ghosted me!! 1 came and said no thank you, the third gave me a similar quote to Justin's, but you could tell he didn't want the job and wasn't as clear about how he'd go about it. Justin came in and was completely confident on how his team could get it done. And with a bucket truck - no cranes needed. (two of the above were talking cranes). Kyle, Kyle and Not Kyle (Cody) were great!! They worked hard and got it all done in 3 days!! They were nice, easy to talk to, piled the massive amount of trees in a great spot for the log truck. I thought taking down dead trees wouldn't open things up that much, but wow did it! I love how open and cleared out everything looks!! Lindsey and Kate were fabulous and accommodating talking about the cost of the job and log truck. And now I can add flowers and plants in the brighter area. FYI probably not going to plant trees... but some rhodies if I can keep the deer off them. (O: Thank you to ArborTech!! Cheers, until I can budget for the backyard.
Gabe Godfrey
Gabe Godfrey
2023-06-13
The tree estimate and removal process had a quick turnaround (one week) and was coordinated around my schedule. Very accommodating. The team that showed up for the job was very professional and asked questions along the way to better meet my needs. Very affordable and highly recommend to anyone needing work done with trees!
Dawn Bradshaw
Dawn Bradshaw
2023-06-01
I more than appreciate great workers...your crew is amazing! the physical ability, the mathematical knowledge even if innate, and the eye for art (cleaning up my white pines to beautiful trees) is a hard combo to find in someone. Your climber has all those skills and more. Your pricing was very reasonable! The care your crew took to ensure everything was clean and in better condition than when they came was more than apreciated by me. Even my neighbors said something! Thank you! I will call you again for future tree maintenance!
Ursula Wiebusch
Ursula Wiebusch
2023-05-22
We enjoy working with the Arbortech team, from start to finish. Professional and respectful. We just had 8, 100 ft + trees removed and could not be happier with the results. We recommend Arbortech.
SMO'T
SMO'T
2023-04-25
Arbortech is a great business to deal with. They did a big job quickly, professionally, and left our property in good condition. Lindsey, Justin, and their crews were all terrific. Highly recommend.
Laura Flavell
Laura Flavell
2023-04-15
I needed to have a large Norway maple tree removed and wanted to get at least three estimates. Eric's tree service came out and gave me a somewhat reasonable quote of $3500, then a week later before I had gotten another estimate from a different company Eric's tree service texted me and said they'd be in the area the following week, I called them and they said they had to revisit the estimate. They came back out continued to tell me her personal problems and that my neighbor would have to move his trailer. She then sent me a new quote of $7231!!! I called Arbortech and Justin came over on the day scheduled and was my most reasonable quote! He also said my neighbor wouldn't need to move his trailer. Justin and his crew arrived on time and did a phenomenal job!! They are true professionals! They cleaned up everything. They had had to remove a fence panel and when they put it back it was more secure than it had been when it had been originally installed. Justin's quote was $4700 less than Eric's! This experience with Arbortech was purely positive I highly recommend this company! Thank you Justin, Lindsey and the rest of the crew, you guys rock!!
ILost MyShoe
ILost MyShoe
2023-04-13
The service I received from everyone at Arbortech for a tree removal was absolutely wonderful. Any questions and concerns I had were answered and reassured. Justin and Lindsey were both so helpful and the value I paid for this service was outstanding. Super reasonable, and I would recommend Arbortech to anyone in need of any tree service. Super grateful and happy. If I could figure out how to add pictures to my review, I would. They did an incredible job with not just the tree removal itself, but also with a brush pile I also had taken care of. Again, highly recommend Arbortech for anyone who is in need of any type of tree service. Couldn’t be more pleased!