Tree trimming is not as straightforward a task as you might think. A trimming schedule can depend on the season and climate where you live. Use care and caution as you navigate maintenance of trees during the different seasons with assistance from local tree specialists to make for a smoother landscaping project.

Trimming in the Spring

Typically, you would not consider doing any tree trimming work between March and May. This is because at this time of year, your trees will be in their most active growth cycle. If you were to trim during this period, it would lead to a higher risk of infestation from pests and disease and cause stress to the trees. If you have spring flowering trees like dogwoods, however, this is a good time for minimal shaping.

How to Trim Trees in Summer

In the summer, you want to allow your trees to soak up the sun, water, and nutrients during the time when they need more energy. If you have invasive species, have someone come in to eliminate them. Otherwise, stick to doing minor trimming to keep your trees in good shape if they are growing too fast.

Fall Tree Trimming Is Ideal

It’s best to save most of your serious tree trimming for the fall months. Trees enter dormancy once their leaves have fallen, and this is when you can see better into the canopy of each tree. Dormant trees won’t experience stress from pruning or trimming, and they will heal faster. This is a great time to remove dead or diseased branches and do crown thinning to encourage sunlight to reach the lower branch levels.

Trimming During the Winter

It’s going to be difficult to trim trees in the winter because of the weather that makes it easier to damage branches while working on the trees. If you do notice a damaged trunk or branches that are about to fall, call in an arborist to handle the task safely and professionally instead of attempting to remove branches or whole trees by yourself.

Tree trimming and other maintenance can be a great deal of work, especially if you have several large trees on your property. You need to consider the tree species and time of year when making plans for trimming. Give us a call or send us a message at Blue Collar Tree Care of the greater Terre Haute, IN area for your tree trimming needs. We’ll be happy to help new and returning clients with trimming and other landscaping tasks.