RESIST FALL PRUNING

We love the shade and beauty of our trees in the summer, and we’re tempted to trim or prune them as part of our fall yard maintenance. The fact is, this could damage or even kill one of these beloved trees. In a natural transition from summer to fall, trees drop their leaves—the process is called abscission—so the tree doesn’t waste any more energy keeping those leaves as it gets colder. Trees use excess energy to bolster their health and vitality for the winter instead of continuing to put energy into new growth. Wounds will have trouble closing if a tree is pruned before it’s completely dormant, and this puts a tree at risk for fungal diseases. Fall pruning can also stimulate new growth that won’t have time to mature and harden before the cold weather comes.

Effective pruning involves some species-specific knowledge; study over the fall and wait for winter when trees are dormant or for early spring when they start to actively grow again. When the timing is right, here are a few tips: Clean out any dead or compromised branches first. Thin out overgrown and smaller branches to increase Don’t prune when it’s wet or damp out. Any dampness light and air at the tree's “crown." can encourage bacterial growth. A temperate dry Remove any low-hanging and unwanted lower branches. day will be better for both you and the tree! Always cut at the node of a branch. This can be where

Never remove more than 20% of the tree’s live wood. twigs meet the branch or where a branch joins the trunk.