Even though you may leave certain maintenance tasks around your property to do in warmer weather, taking care of your trees during the winter months is essential. Winter is one of the best times to prune your trees.

In this post, our team from Frady Tree Care Specialists will share with you the six benefits of pruning trees in winter, especially in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and other areas of Piedmont North Carolina.

Advantages of Pruning Trees During the Winter Months in North Carolina

1. Winter Pruning Is Less Stressful

Pruning trees when they are in their active growing season can cause stress and can stimulate extra growth that will be unable to harden before winter arrives. Also, cold weather can kill any pruning done in late fall, eventually damaging and disfiguring the tree.

On the other hand, pruning trees when they are dormant will not stimulate new growth. On top of that, with the additional energy reserve during this time of year, the pruning cuts will heal quickly, leaving your tree less vulnerable by the time warm weather brings destructive pathogens and insects.

2. Winter Pruning Enables You to Evaluate Tree Structure Better

Since trees drop their leaves during winter, it is easier to view the best areas to prune to maintain your tree’s structural integrity. It is also easier to identify vulnerable areas, such as damaged or diseased branches, which makes your winter pruning more effective.

Are you unsure about pruning your trees in winter? Be sure to reach out to our team at Frady Tree Care Specialists, Charlotte’s professional tree service, for a tree inspection.

3. Winter Pruning Helps Your Trees Look Better in Spring

Pruning your trees in winter can help them look better when spring comes around. Any of the branches you cut during winter can recover quickly during spring with new growth.

4. Winter Pruning Prevents the Spread of Disease

Many diseases that infect trees through pruning cuts are not around during winter since the bacteria, parasites, insects, and fungi that spread or cause these diseases are dead or dormant.

For instance, oak trees are highly susceptible to oak wilt, a severely destructive fungal disease. Pruning oak trees during winter can reduce the likelihood of infection.

5. Winter Pruning Helps Prevent Winter Damage

During winter, damaged, dying, or dead trees can be safety hazards, especially when snow and ice exert additional weight on them. Pruning trees in winter makes them safer while helping to rejuvenate weaker trees by eliminating diseased or dead wood.

6. Winter Pruning Preserves Your Property’s Appearance

Winter pruning can help shape your trees, enabling them to grow in a manner most suitable for your property. It is also good for neighboring plants since they are less likely to be disturbed.

Additionally, the frozen, firmer ground will allow you to bring in heavier equipment for large pruning jobs without worrying about damaging your landscape or causing soil compaction.

What About Spring and Summer Pruning?

Though winter is a perfect time to prune your trees, it does not mean that you shouldn’t prune trees during spring and summer. There are certain benefits that spring and summer pruning offer, such as:

• Taking care of deadwood that is difficult to detect in winter
• Improving your tree’s overall look once it is leafed out
• Raising the canopy and improving your view
• Opening up the tree, allowing more sunlight into the interior, and increasing air circulation

Your Trusted Tree Care Specialists in the Charlotte and Winston-Salem Areas of North Carolina

Regardless of which tree maintenance tasks you would like to attempt, it is always best to rely on the expertise and experience of trained and certified specialists.

At Frady Tree Care Specialist, we are ready to provide you with a team of certified arborists committed to satisfying all your tree care needs. Do you want to enjoy the benefits of pruning trees in winter or learn when is the best time for tree removal?

Call us at Frady Tree Care Specialists at (704) 644-2516 and speak to one of our professional arborists in the Charlotte, NC, area. We also have an office in Winston-Salem at (336) 236-1006.