Addressing the Pruning Needs of Your Woody Plants

Fall and winter are excellent times to improve the structure of your trees and shrubs. Many property owners prefer to prune after the growing season has started. Pruning in the growth period requires some special considerations: Has the tree or shrub pushed out new growth yet? Is there breakage in the canopy of the plant from the previous year? What species is the plant? Is the plant interfering with structures on my property or posing any dangers? Is there a wildlife consideration that must be taken into account? Specialized Tree Service takes into account all these factors when visiting your property. Simply removing dead branching can be done year round. Removing dead material allows the tree or shrub to effectively seal off the wound with less energy. When dead wood is present, the plant is trying to close off/choke off that branch. The plant uses less energy to heal a proper pruning cut vs trying to choke off a branch. Branches which are causing property damage or interfering with pedestrian and vehicle right of way need to be removed. Some species need additional measures taken to remove the branch material (sanitizing sprays), but this work should be completed as soon as the problem is identified. Considering wildlife patterns is important as well. Certain bird species have protected nesting privileges, and deer pattern behavior should be taken into account every fall and late spring. Finally, if your tree or shrub is actively pushing out new growth, let the new growth emerge if possible. The plant just expended large amounts of stored energy to perform this task and would appreciate the chance receive the benefits of photosynthetic energy production from its newly sprouted leaves and needles.