Why to Prune Your Trees in Winter

During a harsh Atlanta, GA winter, the last thing most people are thinking about is yard work. But if you want your trees to look the best they can (and stay strong and healthy), did you know that winter could be the ideal time to prune your trees? A little extra care during the cold weather could be just what your trees need to come back stronger than ever when the weather warms again. Read on to learn how you can make that happen.

Minimizing Tree Stress

Believe it or not, trees can experience stress! And as you might imagine, cutting off limbs is a stressful event for trees. Since stress can harm a tree’s overall health by stunting its growth and making it more susceptible to disease, it’s important to minimize stress for your trees when pruning. 

Luckily, trees are dormant during winter, which means they slow down growth to focus on surviving the cold. They also experience less stress while dormant, so you can prune away ailing branches without stressing the tree. That way, when the growing season returns, the tree can prioritize strengthening the remaining branches.

How Does Pruning Help Your Trees?

Pruning comes with several health benefits for your trees. Here are just a few:

• Strengthening branches. As we mentioned before, removing dead, weak, or sick branches allows the tree to focus its resources on strengthening healthy branches instead.
• Balancing the crown. The “crown” of your tree refers to the part above the trunk. Uneven limb distribution – too many heavy branches on one side – puts the tree at increased risk of tipping over, especially when the root structure is weak. Pruning to even out branch distribution is an important safety measure.
• Increased leaf growth. The “canopy” of your tree refers to the leaves and the branches that hold them up. Trimming this area back can promote leaf growth by allowing more air circulation and sunlight.
• Increased fruit yields. Careful pruning could result in more fruit from fruit trees.

Assessing Trees During Winter

All trees (except evergreens) will lose their leaves during cold weather, making it much easier to see straight to the structure. Without leaves in the way, arborists can easily spot defects in limbs or bark, including weak limbs and signs of pest damage. Then, once problem areas are identified, they can be addressed easily without stressing the trees. Trimming away weak limbs is also a great way to enhance safety before heavy wind and snow.

If you are experiencing a tree emergency, such as a fallen limb or entire tree, call AKA Tree Service right away. We’re available 24/7 for tree emergencies.

AKA Tree Service is Here to Help Atlanta, GA Trees Thrive

Even though winter is in full swing, taking time to have your trees pruned today could give them extra strength and beauty tomorrow. When spring rolls around again, your trees will thank you with beautiful foliage, sturdy branches, and more fruit. The AKA Tree Service team can help make it happen! No matter what tree care services you need, we can help.Give us a call to get started with a free consultation!