Benefits of Winter Tree Pruning

Winters can be a tough time here in Western Maryland, so you probably aren’t thinking about tree care right now – but with a little extra care now, your trees could come back stronger than ever in the spring. Pruning trees during their dormant period – the winter – can encourage improved limb growth, stronger resistance to pests, and even increased yields for fruit trees. Read on to learn about the benefits of winter pruning!

Reducing Tree Stress

Trees can experience stress, just like people can – though they experience it in different ways. Just like with people, though, stress is bad for a tree’s overall health. Stress can stunt a tree’s growth and make it more susceptible to pest infestations. As you’d guess, having limbs cut off is pretty stressful for a tree. However, there’s a way to mitigate that stress.

As we mentioned above, trees become dormant during winter. This means they stop growing and conserve their resources to survive the cold. While trees are dormant, they experience less stress. This means you can prune them without interrupting growth cycles!

How Does Pruning Help Trees?

It might seem counterintuitive to cut off tree branches to help the tree grow, but it’s important to remember that each branch is carefully assessed before being pruned away. A tree care pro will only cut away branches if it will benefit the tree’s overall health or enhance safety for the people and property around it.

Here are just a few of the benefits of tree pruning:

• Improved tree health. Pruning away dead, weak, or sick branches allows the tree to support healthy ones instead.
• Improved tree balance. Trees need to stay carefully balanced. Too many heavy branches on one side can increase a tree’s risk of falling over – especially if its root structure is weak. Pruning unbalanced branches can protect people and property from harm.
• Promoting fruit growth. Pruning could increase fruit trees’ yield by encouraging new growth at the pruning site.

Benefits of Tree Assessments During Winter

Most trees (except evergreens) lose their leaves during winter. This makes it easier for a tree care professional to assess your tree for signs of damage or disease. Then, any problems can be dealt with right away without risking extra stress to your trees. Removing weak or dying branches before the weather gets bad can help your trees stand up to harsh Western Maryland storms.

Baker Tree Services is Here to Help Western Maryland Trees Thrive

Even when the weather gets cold, there are still a few things you can do for your trees! It’s the perfect time to handle tree pruning without causing undue stress to the trees. The skilled tree care team at Baker Tree Services is on hand to help with whatever services you need!

Give us a call to get started with a free consultation!