As trees continue to drop their leaves, we approach the Dormant Season – the best time of year to prune.

Dormancy is a tool trees use to protect themselves over winter. They drop their leaves and pull in vital nutrients and moisture to sustain itself over winter. This prohibits energy and water loss from the tree which is hard to replace in the shorter days and reduced sunlight during the winter season.

Once the leaves begin to fall, dormancy has basically gone to sleep. It’s not growing or repairing itself. The buds have already been set for the next season. The tree is in hibernation mode – slowing down its own metabolism to conserve itself.

If you’ve been putting off tree work so far this year, good news. The dormant season is the best time of the year to do tree work. And even more perfect timing ahead of the winter season, when ice and snow can easily bring down what appear to be strong trees.

Most trees can be pruned at any time of the year. But the dormant season is ideal because it’s safer both for the tree and for the crew. Here’s why:

Prune Trees Now Before Winter Becomes Harsh

Winter is right around the corner! And with winter comes snow and ice storms. Ice layers put heavy loads on trees and can down even the strongest ones when soil conditions become saturated. Remember, once winter comes, the soil tends to retain moisture and doesn’t dry out until late spring.

So this is a good time to take advantage of the dormant season. Tree pruning is much harder than it looks. You should never climb on a ladder with a chain saw or conduct tree pruning without the proper safety equipment, techniques, and experience.

We recommend having any at-risk trees inspected by our expert arborist, who can assess if the tree needs to be pruned, removed, or monitored.

Because the last thing you need this winter is for a tree to come down on your home or vehicle.

 

Contact Us!

Need help with trees service in the Baltimore County area? Operating out of Glen Arm, MD, we have been serving the eastern part of the county for over four decades!

Contact us today to schedule your free tree assessment!