Less chances of tree diseases spreading – During winter bacteria, fungi, and insects are dead or dormant; therefore, diseases are harder to spread when pruning in the winter.
Pruning during late winter or early spring is beneficial to help lower the chances of tree diseases spreading to other trees. Trees are dormant during winter and pruning when they are inactive allows them to begin closing and healing wounds from pruning. Tree diseases can spread to other trees easier when they are active and when they have open wounds. The open wounds create access to the tree for disease.
Faster Healing – Pruning when trees are dormant gives trees time to heal because trees are inactive during winter.
As stated before, trees are able to heal better when pruned during late winter and early spring. Pruning trees when they are active can cause stress to trees which can cause healing to take a bit longer.
Better visibility – Tree branches are bare which allows for more precise diagnostic and pruning since they are easier to see.
During winter tree branches are bare. All the leaves are gone which allow for better visibility and it is easier to see the form of the tree. It’s easier to determine what needs to be pruned and to identify any diseases or dead branches.
Severe weather ready – By removing dead and weak branches, trees are more likely to survive high winds and heavy snow.
Damaged or dead trees can be hazard during winter if not attended properly. Heavy storms, snow, and ice can cause weak branches to fall and cause damage to your property. Removing tree branches that are weakened or dead when they are dormant allows trees to make them more secure. It is really important to remove dead or weak branches to keep your home and family safe.
Better access and less damage to landscape – During this time it is easier to access the trees that need maintenance and damage to landscape can be avoided.
During the winter, the ground freezes which allows the soil to harden. When removing or pruning a tree, we often use heavy equipment that can cause damage to the ground if the ground is too soft or wet. Removing trees or pruning branches during late winter allows us to access the site better and avoid damage to your landscape.