3 Reasons Why You Should Trim Your Evergreen Trees in the Winter

Evergreens are great trees to plant in your yard because they do not shed their leaves on the onset of cold weather. However, this means that you need to trim them occasionally to get rid of unwanted foliage. Knowing when to cut your trees can significantly improve their health and boost growth. One of the best times of the year for this project is towards late winter. Below are some main reasons why:

Prevent Damage to the Tree Bark

The best time to prune a tree is when there is minimal growth. During times of accelerated growth, tree bark produces a lot of sap when it's cut. This, in turn, attracts bugs and pests, which can invade the tree and cause disease. Additionally, during times of growth, the tree focuses all the nutrients and energy into the growth process. Therefore, it won't recover fast from cuts.

Most trees experience minimal or no growth during the winter. This means that the tree can focus its energy on recovering after a trim. Additionally, evergreens produce little sap during the winter, and this protects the tree from bugs and insects. Thus, if you want to trim your tree without exposing it to rot, pests and severe damage, winter is the best period.

Prepare Your Trees for Spring Storms

Do you have evergreen trees with overgrown branches? If so, you should trim them before spring. The spring season is characterised by rains and storms that can cause weak tree branches to break off. Breakage not only affects the health of the tree, but it can also cause damage to your landscaping features, plants and even your roof. Thus, you should prune trees in winter to get rid of large, weak, diseased and rotten branches to prevent the potentially devastating effects of spring storms.

Improve Tree Health and Appearance

Most evergreen trees begin to experience growth in late spring and early summer. Trimming allows new, healthy branches to grow. If your tree is laden with weak, diseased or pest-infested branches, you should get rid of them in anticipation of new growth. However, if you cut the tree in late summer or autumn, it won't grow as fast as it would have during the spring. As a result, it will be at risk of suffering extensive damage.

Additionally, tree trimming towards late winter improves tree appearance during the spring. Since spring is characterised by plant growth, well-pruned trees coupled with a manicured lawn and beautiful garden blooms can dramatically boost the appeal of your outdoor space.

Before you trim your evergreen trees, make sure you know how to do it right. The wrong technique can do more harm than good. Consult an arborist for professional help.