Shoveling, plowing, sanding…and pruning?
A common misconception is that tree maintenance cannot be done during the winter or that tree care companies do not operate during this time of the year.
Because of this mistaken belief, there is a lot of work for professional tree care companies during the warmer months. As a result, homeowners sometimes have to wait longer to get their tree work done. While winter weather might make tree maintenance more complex, tree care procedures can be done during the winter months to benefit the trees in the subsequent growing season. One of the best ways to protect trees during the winter is to work with a local Woodstock tree service provider. This partnership can yield several benefits for both you and your trees.
Here are a few of the benefits that winter tree trimming can provide.
Winter Trimming Improves Tree Health
When pruning trees, the most critical consideration is the tree's health. Winter is the best time for pruning trees because they are in dormancy. So, pruning won't get in the way when the tree is trying to make new growth, as it would in the fall or winter, and it will help the tree continue to grow.
Pruning a tree in winter is much less likely to leave it vulnerable to tree diseases such as oak wilt or Dutch elm disease because these pathogens are also usually dormant in the winter months. Insects, fungi, and bacteria are all common spreaders of tree disease or damage, but they are much less active in the winter. If the tree were trimmed during the warm summer, the insects and fungi would have a much greater chance of affecting the tree with disease and other detriments.
Winter Tree Trimming Is Much Easier
Once the leaves have all fallen after the autumn months, the bare branches allow the tree's branching structure to be fully seen. This lack of leaves makes winter tree care much easier. With little to no foliage, you can easily see which branches need trimming and where the correct areas to make cuts are. During the winter, it is also easier to get rid of dead growth, branches that are sick or deformed, and other problems.
Because the winter freeze also makes the ground harder and often covers it in snow, heavy-duty equipment will have less impact on the ground than if the service was performed in the spring or summer. Machinery such as cherry pickers can be more easily positioned, and you’ll also have more ease of movement among the branches; this makes the work much faster.
Healthy Spring Growth
Winter tree trimming can help your tree grow much healthier come springtime. By removing impediments such as damaged, dead, or diseased branches, the tree can focus on its main areas during spring growth instead of healing fresh wounds. With the main focus being on the healthy branches, this allows it to use its nutrients from the soil and photosynthesis more efficiently.
The new shoots and buds will also have much fewer obstacles getting in their way, making for a spectacular sight when they begin to emerge. If pruning were to be carried out in spring or summer, this growth would be hampered instead of growing into a strong and healthy new branch.
Trimming Makes The Tree Safer
You can also make sure that your tree is less dangerous to you and your property by pruning it in the winter. If dead or broken branches aren't taken care of regularly, they could become dangerous during storms.
Strong winds or storms, whether in the winter or summer, can cause weak branches to break off, potentially damaging your home or outbuildings and posing a threat to your and your family's safety. Getting rid of these potentially dangerous branches in the winter, when it's easier to prune, can give you peace of mind all year.
Taking proactive action will help the tree grow new leaves and use its nutrients more efficiently, so it will get stronger and be less likely to be hurt by bad weather later in the year.
While winter tree work may appeal to property owners trying to get ahead on their spring cleanup after the harsh winter months, trees should be assessed on a case-by-case basis by a trained tree professional. Improper timing of your tree’s pruning can lead to further complications, which can cause the tree to become a hazard to nearby residents rather than a beautiful piece of the landscape.
Do you live in Woodstock or a nearby town and looking for winter maintenance for the trees on your property?
Contact us today for a free estimate.