Should You Trim Trees in the Spring?
It’s springtime! Although Florida’s seasons are a bit different than the north, it still is much warmer in the spring than it is in the winter months, which means plants are sprouting and growing more rapidly.
Growth is great, but it can weigh down a tree or make a tree look unkempt. Overall the best time to trim trees is when they are in a more dormant state or when it is leafless (in the winter or cooler months). However, you can still trim trees before they really begin growing. If you’re seeing buds or blooms on your trees, it might actually harm your tree to trim it at that time.
If you trim trees the spring, you can potentially limit how they grow and bloom all year. When you trim during the spring, you’re leaving a tree more vulnerable to diseases and infestations.
If it looks like your tree really needs a trim this spring, do not trim/remove more than 10 percent of the tree’s branches. When trimming, try to choose the dead/dying/decaying branches. If your trimming for visual purposes, only remove the branches that will help shape up your tree.
Maple, walnut and birch trees are the best trees to trim in the spring. Young trees should be trimmed too in order to improve their structure. Once they’re done blooming, you can trim these trees in the spring: magnolia trees, apricot trees, flowering plum trees, flowering cherry trees, and lilac trees.
Try to keep your trimming to the winter season for the following trees: oak, elm, honeylocust, and sycamore. These types of trees are prone to diseases and insect infestations, so you don’t want to compromise them by trimming them in the spring.
Tree trimming isn’t complicated, but if your trim incorrectly you could harm or even kill your tree. Our team at Coastline Tree Services know exactly when and how to trim trees. We can keep an eye out on your trees year-round, whether you need them trimmed for safety reasons or aesthetic reasons.
Here at Coastline Trees, we remove trees, trim trees, and care for trees in the greater SW Florida area. Give us a call today.