In the wintertime, outdoor work for the Midwest homeowner is usually limited to shoveling snow and spreading ice melt on the sidewalks and driveway. When a fresh coat of snow covers the ground, all of your outdoor landscaping and plant life is dormant for the winter. But, did you know that this weather makes for the ideal conditions to prune trees? Get a jump start on spring, and ensure a surge of life from your trees by pruning in the wintertime. The arbor experts at Portage Turf Specialists LLC are here for all of your lawn care and maintenance needs this winter, including trees and shrubs.
What Is Pruning?
Pruning is a technique used in landscaping to cut back unwanted, diseased, dead, or damaged plant life to encourage growth. For plants that bloom in the summer, the winter months are the perfect time to cut back the plants before new growth appears. Be sure to pay attention to when your trees will bloom before you prune them, so you don’t accidentally cut away new foliage. Deciduous plants are those that lose their leaves in the winter. These are the perfect trees and shrubs to prune while dormant throughout winter.
What Makes Winter a Good Time to Prune?
It’s much easier to prune a shrub or a tree in the winter when they have no leaves because the branches are more visible and there is less debris. Pruning in the winter also affords less risk of transmitting disease between plants, as well as less attraction of insects. Additionally, mild, sunny winter days bring the perfect conditions for winter pruning. Your ideal window of opportunity for winter pruning is from mid-November to mid-March.
How Do I Prune?
Your goal is to maintain the overall shape of the tree or shrub by only cutting back excess length, and removing dead and diseased branches. Be sure to wear the proper safety gear and use appropriate equipment while pruning. Large projects and tree trimming can be dangerous and may require expertise.
Plants enter into dormancy throughout the winter to sustain climate and weather changes. While growth is not visible, your plants are very much alive and need some special treatment in order to thrive the following spring. At Portage Turf Specialists in Ravenna, OH, our goal is always to provide the best combination of natural and traditional lawn care solutions, including trees and shrubs. Get started with your Free Plant and Health Inspection today or call 330-296-8873.
