How Often Should Homeowners Prune Trees?
Every year, trees add $31.5 billion to property values around the country.
On top of adding value to our homes, trees create habitats for wildlife, improve air quality in your neighborhood, and improve our mental health.
To keep your trees beautiful and healthy, they need to be pruned. But what is the best tree pruning schedule? How often should we prune trees?
Keep reading to find out how often you should get your trees pruned.
Why You Should Prune Your Trees
Routine pruning means healthy trees. Here are some reasons why you should prune your trees.
- To prevent dangerous falling branches
- To improve the aesthetics of the tree
- To fix damage from storms and harsh weather
- To clear branches from power lines or other utilities
- To encourage new, healthy tree growth
- To remove dead or diseased branches
- To live a long life
Pruning Schedules
Depending on the type of tree, its age, and its condition, the ideal pruning schedule will vary. Mature trees should be trimmed every 3 to 5 years, while younger trees benefit from a more frequent pruning, every 2 to 3 years.
This is a guideline. You must also consider the type of tree, size, and overall health of the tree.
Tree Type
The type of tree will also affect the tree pruning timeline. While most follow the above guidelines, some trees have unique requirements.
Fruit trees: typically require a yearly trim to help encourage new fruit growth each spring.
Evergreen trees: are low maintenance and may only require pruning to maintain size and encourage new growth.
Oak trees: While oak trees should follow the standard pruning schedule, it’s important to avoid getting them trimmed from February 1 to July 1. This is because they can be infected with oak wilt disease, which attracts pests that flock to freshly pruned cuts.
Size
Mature trees are beautiful to look at. There are, however, some specific pruning guidelines for the larger tree species.
The larger the tree, the greater the risk to the structures and people around it. Often, heavy, long branches extend over homes and decks. It’s important to have them pruned often to remove broken or dead branches, to raise the canopies, or to reduce the weight of the branches to lower the chances of breakage.
Age
The older the tree, the more important pruning and tree trimming become. A certified arborist can inspect the tree during the pruning process, checking for dead branches and helping to boost the health and life of the tree.
When to Call an Arborist Sooner Than Planned
Sometimes you can’t wait up to five years for a tree trimming. Here are some of the reasons to call a tree specialist earlier than expected.
- Insect or parasite infestations
- Dangerous overgrowth
- Decaying or dying branches or trunk
- Broken branches
The Guidelines to Prune Trees
Once you are aware of the guidelines to prune trees, you can make sure your trees get the care they need. Keep them healthy, safe, and looking their best with scheduled pruning.
Green Pine Tree Service provides all of your tree pruning and tree trimming needs in Dallas. Contact us today to schedule tree pruning, get a free estimate, or get your tree questions answered. We look forward to serving you!
