Winter is an important time to make sure your trees stay healthy. Winter tree trimming and pruning has several benefits for homeowners in Winter Park, Florida. Here are the top reasons you should schedule tree care service during the winter months.
Protect Trees from Winter Damage
Winter storms can severely damage trees. High winds, ice buildup, and heavy snow put a lot of stress on branches. Trimming trees in winter helps:
- Remove dead or damaged branches
- Reduce weight and wind resistance
- Allow wind and snow to better pass through
- Lessen risk of limbs breaking under ice/snow load
Trimming before winter hits reduces the chances your trees will suffer significant damage during the cold months. It also lowers the risk of branches falling and causing property damage or injury.
Prevent Disease Spread
Trimming trees in winter also helps prevent disease spread. In warm months, pruning tools can pick up fungus, mold, or bacteria and transfer it between trees. But cooler winter temperatures make it harder for these pathogens to grow and infect new hosts.
Pruning in winter allows you to:
- Slow disease transmission between trees
- Remove infected branches before spring growth
- Promote healthier trees next season
Improve Sunlight and Air Circulation
Another benefit of winter tree trimming is better sunlight and airflow for spring and summer. With full summer foliage, the dense canopy of trees can block sunlight from reaching the lower branches.
Winter pruning helps:
- Open the canopy to let more light through
- Encourage fuller growth lower on the tree
- Improve air circulation and dry out the interior
More sunlight and air movement reduces fungus growth and keeps trees healthy.
See Branch Structure to Shape Trees
It’s also easier to assess branch structure and prune for desired shape during winter dormancy. Without leaves blocking the view, you can see:
- Branch attachments and joints
- Potential weak or problem spots
- Areas needing thinning or removal
Winter tree trimming and pruning lets you proactively spot issues and maintain good structure. This helps trees develop a form better able to handle weather and last their full lifetime.
Encourage Spring Flowering
For flowering tree varieties like dogwood, redbud, magnolia, and others, pruning at the right winter time encourages more blooms next season.
The key is timing - pruning too early or late limits flowering. But careful winter trimming:
- Removes old flowering wood
- Shapes younger branches that generate more buds
- Allows more sunlight to stimulate growth
More flower buds on younger branches mean gorgeous spring displays.
Adjust Size Before New Growth
It’s also much easier to control a tree’s size by pruning in winter versus high summer. Trying to reduce height and width in summer means cutting off new green growth and leaves the tree just made. This diverts energy rather than storing it for next year.
But pruning branches in winter:
- Removes wood that has already aged and set
- Leaves intact the newer interior buds
- Channels more energy into regrowth
You can better restrict size without sacrificing health prior to spring.
Improve Safety
Of course a major goal of structural pruning is safety - removing potential hazards before they happen. Winter tree trimming allows for the spotting and removing of:
- Dead or dying branches
- Split/cracked limbs
- Branches rubbing together
- Anything overhanging the home
Eliminating these risks in advance of storm season reduces the danger. And clearing around power lines in winter can also prevent outages.
Increase Curb Appeal
Finally, professional winter pruning can boost your curb appeal for spring selling season. Buyers love homes with:
- Shaped, well-tended trees
- Open views of the home
- Good clearance for real estate signs
- No dangerous branches overhead
Carefully trimmed trees show buyers the home exterior has been maintained. It increases perceived value as something they won’t have to deal with.
When to Schedule Winter Tree Trimming Service
Now that you know the benefits, when exactly should you prune? The prime winter tree care trimming timeframe in central Florida is:
- Early December - Best for flowering trees to preserve flower buds
- Mid December to February - Allows time for pruning wounds to seal before growth resumes
- Avoid March pruning - New growth could be damaged by late freezes
Schedule early while reputable tree companies have availability. Be sure your trees get proper care before spring.
Tree Work Now
When selecting a tree care company, choose one that:
- Has certified arborists on staff
- Carries proper insurance
- Uses best practices for pruning
- Offers free estimates
Our staff at Tree Work Now in Winter Park, FL meets all these qualifications. Our winter pruning services keep your trees healthy year after year. Call us now to schedule an appointment!
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