Winter Pruning

Later in the year, when the leaves fall and the snow hits the ground, many property owners stop thinking about their trees until the buds begin to break in the spring. Though trees are dormant through this period of time, they are still able to be pruned!

The winter months are a perfect time of year to prune, and our arborists at Pinnacle Tree and Shrub Care are working on these frosty days to prune trees for aesthetics, longevity, and risk mitigation.

Some of the benefits of winter pruning include:

Visibility of Tree Structure:

After leaves have dropped from canopies, arborists have a better view of tree structure. Branches with abnormal attachments, over extended limbs, and other defects can be seen without having to traverse through thick summer canopies.

Easy to See Dead Branches:

Contrary to popular belief, dead and dying branches are very easy to spot in the winter months. These branches are not covered by the foliage of the growing season, and are easily found by our arborists during pruning. The loss of exterior bark and little to no buds are just a few ways that we can tell if a tree branch is dead.

Simplified Canopy Access:

When climbing a tree, arborists use access tools that need to be ‘thrown’ into branches to hoist up ropes. In the winter months, without the dense summer foliage, this process is more efficient. Parts of the tree that are safe to tie climbing ropes into are clear to see from the ground, and leaves do not impede the arborist.

If you are interested in winter pruning give us a call. One of our qualified arborists will assess your trees and shrubs and provide you with options on how to prepare them for the spring.