Fall Is A Great Time To Prune Most Trees

You may think that the approach to the end of the growing seasons means you can stop

worrying about the trees in your landscape. Think again!

Fall is one of the best times to examine the safety and health of your trees say experts

in tree care. Why?

With the leaves off, cracks, defects and dead wood are easier to see. With winter storms

approaching, hazards should be removed now – before they damage property.

“Most trees can be pruned year round,” says Robert Rouse, staff arborist for the National

Arborist Association, “and certain operations are easier to do in the fall, when dead branches

are easily seen and removed.”

Some homeowners worry that an arborist will not be able to determine dead wood on a tree

when the leaves are off. On the contrary, this is the best time for an arborist to locate dead wood by looking for changes in color, fungus growth, cracks, and other symptoms which help them make this determination. Since the leaves are off, the view of the entire tree’s architecture is clear and a thorough check can be performed.

Pruning is much more than the simple act of sawing off limbs.

Proper pruning is an art based on scientifi c principles of plant physiology. At its most basic

level, pruning trees involve removing damaged, dead or structurally weak limbs, which will

improve a tree’s health and reduce the chances of personal or property damage caused by

falling limbs.

Professional arborists have the capability to make the tree safer and more attractive looking

by pruning live growth as well. Proper pruning encourages growth, increases fl ower and fruit

production, improves plant health, repairs damage and helps add aesthetic appeal to a tree.

Pruning at the right time and in the right way is critical, since it is possible to kill a tree by not

only neglect, but over pruning as well. Contact the licensed tree experts at Pardoe’s Lawn and

Tree Service at 800-427-4890 for advice on pruning your trees.

519 Washington Avenue