With winter right around the corner, you probably haven’t given your yard a whole lot of thought. That’s understandable, considering you most likely spent hours upon hours raking leaves just a month ago. While it feels good not having to deal with your yard in the cold months of winter, there are a few landscaping tasks you should consider. As hard as it is to believe, now is a good time to do a little tree trimming, and not just to the Christmas tree. Winter is the best time of year to prune your trees, and there are several reasons why. This is a task that can be easily done by the homeowner, so there is no reason to call your Fort Collins landscaping company.
The Importance of Pruning Trees
When you take a look at trees that grow in the wild, they often appear unkempt, with branches sprouting all over the place. And while many enthusiasts appreciate and even like this look, most homeowners prefer trees that are neatly trimmed. But pruning your trees does a lot more than just keeping them looking great.
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Dead branches in your tree hinder the growth of new and healthy branches. Once branches start to droop and look sickly, it’s time to have them removed. A dying branch isn’t very nice to look at, plus it takes up precious space on the tree and uses resources better suited for healthy branches.
Pruning is also a great way to remove diseased or decaying branches from your trees. Once these branches have been removed, it will stop them from spreading the disease to healthy branches. In addition, removing these branches will allow more sunlight and air circulation to the healthy branches.
While it is something you probably rarely think about, dead or dying branches become weak and are a threat to fall to the ground. And while the chances of actually getting hit by a falling branch are minimal, a falling branch could likely fall on your car or home and cause damage.
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Signs Your Trees Need Pruning
Broken branches are one sign that your trees need pruning. If you see branches that are broken, split, or otherwise damaged, it is best to get rid of them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, not all damaged branches are easy to see, so you should do regular inspections of the trees on your property.
If you have trees on your property that look funny because they are misshaped, they probably need to be pruned. Some branches on your trees could look out of place; cutting them down will inspire new growth.
Any branches that are growing over power lines or over your home should be removed as soon as possible. Branches that are close to power lines should be removed by a professional. These branches can break, fall and cause damage. You should also inspect your trees after a storm to ensure branches have not been damaged.
Winter Pruning is Less Stressful on Your Trees
Pruning your trees in the summer when they are growing can cause a lot of stress, and it can stimulate additional growth. However, most trees are dormant in the winter, and pruning them this time of year won’t cause as much stress.
If you prune your trees in the summer or fall, you have to contend with branches that are full of leaves. It is much more difficult to prune trees when they are covered in leaves. In the winter, most of your trees will be bare, and a tree free from leaves is a lot easier to prune. It is also easier to evaluate tree structure in the winter when the trees are bare.
Diseased trees are much more active in the summer than they are in the winter. Therefore, pruning a diseased tree in the summer can lead to more spreading. During the cold winter, the bacteria that cause disease is also dormant, so it is less likely that you will cause it to spread to other parts of the tree.
Pruning your trees in the winter means that they will look fabulous come spring. It also means that there is one less task to accomplish come spring. You will have plenty of projects come springtime; it will be nice knowing that you don’t have to worry about pruning as well.
We understand that pruning trees can be a tricky thing, especially if you don’t know much about it. We know exactly what your trees need to remain healthy and strong. So don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about pruning your trees or anything else related to landscaping.
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