Prune Your Trees Now if You Live in This Part of the Country

With snow melting away and temperatures gradually rising, it’s time to get outside and take care of your shrubs and trees. While it might still very much feel like winter outside, your trees are getting ready to wake up. Whether you’re thawing out in the Midwest, getting through a particularly harsh winter in the South, or digging out from the snow in New England, the golden window of pruning is opening up. Late February and March are the few weeks of the year in which you can prune your trees with minimal risk and maximum reward. Here's why:

1. Everything’s visible

All of the foliage is completely off those shrubs and trees. With no leaves to hide behind, all of your plant's structural flaws are on display. This makes it easy to follow the 3Ds rule, which calls for pruning Dead, Damaged, or Diseased branches. Without foliage to block your view, you can more easily spot the areas that demand attention, including dead limbs, crossed branches, storm hangers, hairlines cracks, and cankers. 

2. Less Exposure to Pests and Disease

Trees need to recover from pruning and February and March afford the best time for that to happen. Trees won’t heal when they’re dormant. So, if you prune in mid winter, that wound will stay open for months, making the tree vulnerable to pests and disease.  By pruning in February to early March, you’re cutting the plant just before it wakes up, reducing the wound’s exposure to pests and disease. 

3. Rapid Recovery Time

Since its still dormant, the tree or shrub will have more resources for healing. If you prune in April when the plant is expending energy on growing leaves and branches, it will have fewer resources to devote to healing. By pruning when its dormant, the plant will immediately send the bulk of its growth hormones from the roots to the wound to start the healing process when it awakens in a few weeks. 

3. Low Stress

When a plant is dormant, it stores all of its energy in the root system, not the branches. If you cut in April or May when the plant’s energy is distributed throughout its limbs, not only are you removing a limb, but you’re also removing some of the plant's energy. By pruning while the plant is still dormant, you're not shocking the plant by suddenly removing part of its energy source.

Related: Train Your Trees To Grow Healthy and Strong With This Arborist-Approved Pruning Method

What tree and shrubs can I prune now?

• Check with your local ag extension: You can prune most deciduous and coniferous trees now. However, there are some trees and shrubs you should leave alone. Check your local cooperative extension website to find a specific pruning calendar. Universities such as Iowa State, Penn State, and N.C. State all offer specific pruning calendars. 

• Look for the signs: Your trees and shrubs will tell you if it’s safe to prune. Just look for the following signs on the plant: