Spring Pruning: To Do or Not To Do?

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/nature-flowers-spring-cherry-72473/

Every time spring comes, your yard comes back to life and everything is green and alive. However, did you also notice the excessive growth of the shrubs and trees? If you have, it may have come to your mind to want to trim them down a bit.

A general rule of thumb is that pruning your trees ought to be done during winter time when the trees are leafless. But of course, there can be exceptions to the rule. In this post, we’ll share with you some important information about spring pruning.

Pruning Your Trees During Springtime

If it is possible to prune your trees or shrubs before they start to grow, then that is the ideal time to do so and is still under the category of dormant pruning. When the trees start to bud or bloom during springtime, you would have to be more careful because pruning may harm your trees and plants.

What if the trees already have buds and leaves?

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/apple-tree-flowers-5807/

If you prune your trees in springtime, the consequence could be that the plant’s bloom potential for that year may be affected. Another thing is that cutting the trees during springtime can make them more open to disease and insect infestation.

Safely Pruning Your Trees

If you must prune your trees during spring, then it is still possible and you can do it safely. What you have to keep in mind is that you have removed only less than ten percent of the tree’s branches.

There are two goals for pruning your trees during spring. One is that you prune so that you can remove any decaying, dying, or dead branches so as to keep both your home and the trees safe. The second one is pruning to keep the shape of the tree or for aesthetic purposes. Just remember not to cut more than ten percent of the branches when shaping your tree.

Trees that you can prune in late spring

• Birch trees
• Walnut
• Maple
• Magnolia
• Juneberry
• Lilac
• Flowering cherry
• Flowering plum
• Crabapple
• Dogwood
• Apricot
• Chokecherry

Trees that you should never prune in spring

• Honeylocust
• Elm
• Sycamore
• Oak

Be careful on when you prune these trees because if you prune them during spring, they will be more vulnerable to diseases such as stem cankers, anthracnose, oak wilt, or Dutch elm disease. So be sure to remember these things if you plan on pruning your trees during spring.

Takeaway

Pruning your trees is not that hard once you know the information we’ve shared above. However, if you find yourself in doubt and if you are still not sure on how to prune your trees or when to do so, it would be best to ask for the help of a tree trimming company so that they can do the work for you. Besides, they are experts when it comes to pruning and other services that you may require for your yard. Simply ask around your neighborhood or do a quick Google search to look for the best trimming services there is.

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