When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree trimming?” The answer can be vague.
The type of tree usually dictates when many species are able to be pruned, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other types of plants and trees in the landscape.
With the guidance of a certified arborist in Hawaii, you can figure out what time of year is ideal for pruning your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.
Best Season to Trim Trees
Without any other context, HI Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in Hawaii. Winter is best because the trees are usually dormant, so trimming will lead to the least amount of harm, if any.
There are many benefits to pruning trees during the winter:
Less risk of pest damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are mostly inactive in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can harm a freshly pruned tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.
Easier to see the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves stop your arborist from seeing the complete shape of the tree. When the tree branches are bare, it is a lot easier to identify diseased or dead branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.
Trees have time to heal before spring – By doing this major tree trimming during the winter, your trees have several months to build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring, you’ll barely be able to tell where the branches were trimmed, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce brand new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.
Less chance of damaging nearby landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer seasons, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter months since these annuals already died out.
Do All Trees Need Trimming?
Yes, all trees benefit from routine trimming. Tree trimming every winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:
Trimming Makes the Tree Healthier
Dead and diseased limbs are removed, as are branch stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub one another are also pruned so they don’t weaken one another or create an open wound on the tree.
Trimming trees each year is a great way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect infestations can be identified and responded to immediately.
A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better
When a tree becomes overgrown, it’s hard for water and nutrients to reach every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.
Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping problems. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, routine trimming will improve the results you desire from it.
Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming
If the curb appeal of your landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is important! Trimming trees gives them an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is especially important if you have a lot of identical trees on your property.
Removing lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles improves the overall look of the tree while also strengthening tree health.
Less Chance of Dropping Branches
Tree trimming – done the right way – encourages the remaining tree branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t damage your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around pruned trees.
Another safety issue for large trees is that they impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other specialized tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and stop it from blocking various views.
Call HI Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning
Hiring a professional arborist in Hawaii gives you access to their expert knowledge on the subject of tree pruning. We strongly recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.
An arborist won’t just consider the immediate situation. Instead, he or she will take the time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that may put them at risk). After collecting all the information, an arborist will suggest a long-term plan based on the trees’ unique needs and stick to that course of action until the goals for your trees are achieved.
This plan could take years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.
This type of annual care will aid in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and improve fruit or flower production from your trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or branches.
Being proactive about tree pruning can save you a lot of money too. Preventative maintenance is far more affordable than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing an ill tree of a disease that has spread out of control (and one that was easily preventable).
If you care about the health of your trees and the beauty of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from HI Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Hawaii. Call today!
