Winter Pruning

Colorado residents cannot help but enjoy our pleasant fall weather and autumn colors. While the mild temperatures have been abundant, the results in the rain bucket have been dismal. Since August 8th through the end of October, Denver has only recorded six tenths of an inch of precipitation.

As most of our sprinkler systems have been turned off for the winter, now is a good time to have our hoses available to water trees and landscape plants throughout the fall and winter months.

A critical fall and winter time activity is assessing landscape pruning needs. Pruning completed during the winter is known as dormant pruning – when the landscape is quiescent. While pruning is typically considered a spring and summer activity, winter may actually be the most appropriate time to prune.

Sizing up the landscape
Much like your home, trees and shrubs have a structural “framework.” A trained arborist will look at this structure prior to pruning to determine where to make the proper cuts. Making cuts in the correct place will help ensure a healthy and structurally sound tree. With the absence of leaves, this structure is much more evident, along with dead branches and those that have been damaged by previous storm activity.

Insects and diseases
Fresh greenery in the home is a holiday favorite emitting a pleasant fragrance. Insects are also attracted to scents. Trees that are prone to wood boring insects are more likely to be attacked if pruned in the summer. An example is the IPS engraver beetle that has been responsible for killing tens of thousands of pines and spruce along Colorado’s Front Range. Fire blight is a bacterial disease that affects crabapples, hawthorn and many other fruit trees. Pruning in the growing season may spread this disease, thus dormant pruning is recommended.

How often
Regular pruning, performed properly, will result in a healthier and safer landscape. Faster growing trees will benefit from pruning every three to five years. Contact your landscape care professional for a prescribed pruning cycle.

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