First of all, what good is pruning, trimming and shaping trees for my trees? Second, why do it in the winter months? Trimming or pruning a tree is necessary for many reasons. An important reason to prune a tree is to lessen the chance that it will fall over during a wind or ice storm. Thinking of a large treetop is a great way to reduce wind resistance.

Once pruned, air can now easily pass over the top of a tree, requiring much less stabilization and pressure on the root system. Tree maintenance is also visually appealing, as is mowing the lawn. Cutting dead branches helps prevent the spread of disease or bacteria and avoids potential hazards. There are many benefits to pruning, shaping, and pruning a tree.

So why is pruning a tree in winter so effective? There are many reasons. I will point out some important ones.

1 – It’s cheaper! Most tree cutting services prices are low in the winter months as this is a slow period. The cost of local tree service is very competitive during this season.

2 – It’s cold outside. Trees fall asleep (dormant) in the winter like our beloved bear! The vascular cambium is slow; the tree depends on its reserves for nourishment and does not use much energy. So why does this help to cut off a limb? For some species it is very important because the sap flow is not abundant and the tree does not bleed.

3 – The leaves are gone. The leaves of deciduous trees compared to evergreens have fallen, therefore there is much less waste from pruning the trees. Cleaning up and chipping away tree debris becomes so much easier.

So how do tree felling and pruning services determine a dead branch vs. a live branch with no leaves? An experienced tree climber can tell the difference. See a picture of a red maple (Acer rubrum) tree branch, one dead and one alive – winter tree service. The dead limb is slightly discolored, cracked, and dry. The living limb has a healthier, richer, attached, and flexible color tone. You can also see that the new growth is much more abundant than the dead branch.

The texture of the dead limb is very rough, while the texture of the live limb is smooth. If you try to break the dead branch, it is easy to break it. Whereas if you try to break the live branch it is more difficult and you will get ripped, cut or ripped by your live wet wood. Living branches usually have vibrating terminal buds, and dead branch terminal buds are dry, black or dark brown, or completely absent, depending on how long the branch has been dead. Depending on the species of tree, dead branches generally droop and live branches tend to stand more upright.

Generally, when a tree climber is up a tree, it is easier to identify dead branches than from below. Sunlight also helps from above, from below there is often a shadow under the branches making it difficult to see subtle differences. The best way to prune or prune a tree is naturally. This means that only diseased, dying, dead, split, jagged, or poorly balanced limbs are removed.

Sometimes it is necessary to remove live branches, especially if a tree is potentially dangerous due to its leaning. If a large, heavy branch is on the lean side and the tree has grown into a structure, removing this large (leader) branch can lessen the chance of the tree falling. The crown of a tree and the weight of large branches have a lot to do with why a tree falls in a storm. Especially a tree is not diseased or dead, although there is usually a combination of problems for a large tree to fall during a storm.

Tree pruning, cutting, pruning and shaping are necessary chores. As homeowners, it is our responsibility to maintain our trees and keep our yards and neighbors safe. Doing tree work of any kind in the winter is a smart move and saves on your annual tree maintenance budget. So throw on a warm coat, get outside in that cold weather, and prune those trees! Contact a local company to provide your tree trimming service.