Dormant Season is Tree Pruning Season
Dec 31, 2024 ● By M.D. Skeet (“Skeet”)
Tree pruning serves several purposes: improving safety, reducing interference with buildings and protecting tree health. The dormant season is an ideal time to identify problem areas in trees. Diseased or damaged branches are easier to spot and may need pruning. Winter storms, snow and ice add stress to dead and broken branches, increasing the risk of these branches falling during the season.
Removing dead or broken branches is a common way to prevent damage to structures or objects beneath a tree. Branches grow throughout spring and summer and can sometimes encroach on roofs, siding, sidewalks, driveways or lawns. Winter storms can cause these branches to move dangerously. Interfering branches should be reduced in length or removed to prevent potential breakage, as well as possible injury or property damage.
Certain insects, which spread causal agents of disease, are attracted to fresh pruning cuts. These pests aren’t active in late fall and winter, making it the best time to prune species like oak and elm. During the warmer months, oak trees are vulnerable to oak wilt and bur oak blight, while elm trees can fall prey to Dutch elm disease. Many municipalities enforce ordinances with fines for pruning these trees at the wrong time of year, so it’s important to check local regulations.
Improved Branch Structure: Without leaves, a tree’s structure and any damaged branches are easier to see, making it simpler to identify structural issues, prune out overextended branches and promote healthy spring growth and form.
Reduced Disease Risk: Pruning during winter reduces the risk of disease and pest infestation because many insects, fungi and bacteria that may be attracted to fresh cuts are not active at this time of the year.
Less Stress on Trees: Some tree species experience less stress when pruned in winter, as they have few or no remaining leaves, and can heal better during the dormant period.
Minimal Impact on Nearby Plants: Plants are commonly planted under or near trees, and during the dormant season, perennials and annuals are inactive and the soil often frozen. This allows arborists to access plant beds more easily, move branches through them and drop limbs in these areas without causing harm to gardens.
Improved Access: Frozen ground often allows equipment to access trees that may be harder to reach at other times of the year.
Reduced Noise Impact: With windows closed during the winter, the unavoidable sounds of chippers and leaf blowers are less disruptive to residents.
Less inconvenience to common ground and sidewalk areas: Many townhome, condo and homeowner associations schedule tree pruning during the dormant season to enhance safety for residents. With colder weather, people tend to spend less time walking on sidewalks and community paths. The decreased winter outdoor activity also means residents are less likely to be inconvenienced by blocked sidewalk and pathway areas.
Rejuvenation and Renewal Pruning for Shrubs: Rejuvenation pruning means cutting stems back to within 6 to 12 inches of the ground. Renewal pruning involves removing about one-third of older or dead stems to the main stem or ground. During the dormant season, arborists have a clear view of the shrub’s structure, making it easier to prune effectively. In spring, shrubs respond well, drawing on fall storage resources to fuel new growth on the strongest branches.
Dormant-season pruning offers numerous benefits for trees, shrubs and the surrounding environment, making it a critical part of year-round tree care. For the best results, have trees inspected by a certified arborist from an accredited tree care company and develop a winter pruning plan.
M.D. Skeet (“Skeet”) is an ISA-certified arborist and commercial arborist representative in the Bolingbrook office of Bartlett Tree Experts. Bartlett has five offices serving Chicagoland, Wisconsin and Indiana, and more than 165 offices nationwide. For more information, call 630-960-4001 or visit Bartlett.com.