Winter Pruning!

Winter Pruning Made Easy!

     I know that it sounds weird to dig out your tools in the winter to cut back your tree & shrubs, but winter pruning prepares trees and shrubs for growth when they come out of dormancy in the spring. This leaves the wounds to expose for a small amount of time before growing cycle. With a less chance of pest and diseases causing harm. One of the top reasons is that the branches are bare you can see a lot better. The best time is right around six weeks to a month away for spring.

     What should you prune in the late winter?

• Hardwood Trees

     When pruning hardwood trees this allows you to see the branches and make cuts that will keep the trees natural shape. This allows the tree a full growing season to heal. It's important to cut the branches off right above branch collar, you can identify it by the whorls of wrinkled bark. Cutting just above the is area, with a square cut, will ensure of a fast heal. Which I didn't know that this area of the tree contains special anti-microbial chemicals and phenols, which help inhibit decay, then you want to have to use the pruning paint.

• Summer Flowering Tree & Shrubs

     Remember the rule of thumb if it flowers after May 15th, prune it in late winter or early spring for lots of bloom in summer.

• Roses

     Old Fashion and climbing roses should be pruned right before the leaf buds break in the early spring. Since we live where we live pruning should be done when you remove winter protection and the danger of frost has passed. An exception to this time frame is the old-fashion roses that flower once each growing season, such as Damasks and Mosses.

• Fruit Trees

     Fruit tree flower on growth from the previous season, but pruning should be done when the tree is dormant so there will be some flower and fruit loss. But the good news this will promote vigorous growth, larger, and better testing fruit., Please note each type of fruit tree has some special requirements, so please research before you start cutting. 

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