Santa Barbara’s “urban forest” is a mix of more than 300,000 public trees and thousands more on private properties throughout the area. If you have trees in your backyard or peppered throughout other outside spaces you regularly care for, you know pruning is important for overall tree health. It’s also an effective way to maintain regular and even growth. Today, we’re diving into the topic of what’s generally considered the best time of the year for pruning.
Winter Is Usually Best for Pruning
This may not be the answer that immediately popped into your head, but winter is generally considered the best time of year to prune trees. The reason is because this is when most trees are dormant. Even in California where growing seasons are longer, there are cooler months when trees lose leaves or have slower growth. By pruning in the winter, you’ll also be able to visualize the branches better. This reduces the risk of cutting into new growth, which is what you’re fostering with pruning. Proper pruning also helps establish growing patterns that are good aesthetically and beneficial for the trees, too.
Blooming Trees Are an Exception
One of the notable exceptions is with trees or shrubs that usually bloom sometime during the spring. Popular options in California include magnolia and crabapple trees. In this part of the country, blooming usually happens earlier in the spring as days get warmer and longer. In this instance, it’s best to wait until after these trees or shrubs have bloomed to prune, which is usually late spring or early summer. If you prune or trim too early, you’ll affect annual blooming patterns. This could mean fewer blooms.
Be Careful With Dead or Damaged Limbs
It’s safe for most people to do light pruning with trees and branches that are easier to reach. However, you do want to be cautious with the removal of dead or damaged limbs as you prune and trim. If you’ll need to climb a tree to do this, it’s best to have the trimming or pruning done professionally. This is also a good idea for any type of tree work that will involve higher or difficult-to-reach trees, or if dead or damaged limbs are heavy or awkward.
Get Some Expert Advice
Getting expert assistance from a professional company like Economy Tree, Inc. is also beneficial if you need some advice about caring for the trees on your Santa Barbara, CA property. Tree professionals have a solid understanding of what’s common in the area with growth patterns and conditions. You can also get tips on watering and other aspects of tree care that play a role in keeping your trees beautiful and healthy year-round.
Contact us today for tree care services right for your needs.
