Trees offer more than just visual appeal. They add value to your property, enhance curb appeal and provide shade during the Texas heat. They also create more comfortable outdoor spaces you can actually enjoy. Whether you’re maintaining established deciduous trees or nurturing fruit trees, regular care makes a big difference in the long-term health of your landscape.
However, when trees are neglected, they not only lose their appeal but can also cause property damage due to falling limbs, termites or disease. That’s why tree pruning, removing dead or overgrown branches, is essential to maintaining the trees’ beauty and value.
Pruning isn’t only for your home’s safety or the trees’ health. Pruning branches helps to prevent the overgrowth of tree limbs. It also improves overall health by encouraging new growth, but only when done correctly.
Even savvy homeowners sometimes don’t know the best time to prune trees and shrubs or the best techniques to use. Should you prune on an annual or semi-annual basis, or simply as needed? A tree care professional can help answer any of these questions.
When Is the Best Time to Prune Trees in Texas?
Pruning your trees is a key part of keeping your property in good shape. The first step is knowing the best time to prune trees in Texas so you can keep them healthy and resilient through all seasons, especially during times of spring growth.
In general, most trees in Texas should be pruned during the coldest months of the year, typically January and February. This is when the tree is in the dormant part of its growth cycle. Pruning trees when they’re dormant helps the pruning cuts heal faster, reducing the risk of disease and insect infestation.
The best times to prune trees in Texas can vary depending on the type of tree. For example, early spring pruning is best avoided for oak trees due to oak wilt. However, fruit trees often benefit from pruning just before new buds appear to support a strong spring growth cycle.
There are two situations where timing your tree pruning is especially important. If you have oak trees, only trim them between July and January to avoid the risk of oak wilt.
The other exception is for homeowners in parts of Texas that get severe weather. Strong winds and icy storms can damage even healthy trees. In this case, it’s better to have a tree care pro remove dead or overgrown branches. They know the best season to prune trees.
When To Prune Oak Trees in Texas
Although it’s not the official state tree of Texas, oak trees are incredibly popular in the Lone Star State. With over fifty varieties native to Texas, oak trees are beloved in the area. Live oaks, Spanish oaks, Mexican oaks, red oaks, bur oaks, post oaks and more are popular oak trees in Texas.
If you’ve ever heard of oak wilt, you already know that this dreaded disease can be serious for oak trees. Oak wilt is spread by beetles, and it affects mostly live oaks and red oaks. It can even kill an oak tree over time. This fungus can spread to surrounding trees, especially if you choose the wrong time to prune a diseased tree.
Why Tree Pruning Matters
Like most trees in Texas, it’s best to prune healthy oak trees in the winter months. However, oak trees suffering from diseases like oak wilt may require a different pruning schedule and careful treatment. Trees affected by oak wilt can be pruned in summer, but should never be pruned in the spring. Avoid pruning oak trees in the spring, when they’re most vulnerable to oak wilt.
Tree Pruning Techniques
Preventing the spread of oak wilt is just one of many reasons why it’s important to know how to prune trees properly. When a tree limb is cut and removed, it creates a wound on the tree that takes time to heal. Improper pruning can create wounds that never heal correctly. Here are some more tips for proper tree pruning:
- Avoid cutting the tree’s branch collar
- Clean and sterilize your tools
- Get rid of infected branches or debris
- Know which tools to use
- Don’t over prune
Let’s dive into each of these.
Avoid Cutting the Tree’s Branch Collar
The first thing any homeowner should know before pruning their trees is to avoid cutting into the tree’s branch collar. The branch collar is the thicker, raised ring at the base of a limb where it connects with the tree trunk or with a larger, “parent” branch. If you don’t have experience pruning trees, you might think it’s best to prune limbs flush with the trunk, but this is a mistake.
The branch collar is a vital part of the tree’s circulation system. If you cut into the collar when pruning a limb, it can interfere with the tree’s ability to circulate nutrients and prevent the wound from healing properly. This can leave the tree vulnerable to bacteria and disease.
Clean and Sterilize Your Tools
When pruning branches, be sure to clean and sterilize your tools, including pruning saws, shears or any other tools that you use.
Get Rid of Infected Branches or Debris
Be sure to burn, chip or bury any trimmed branches or other debris from trees affected by oak wilt as soon as possible after pruning to help prevent the spread of this deadly fungus.
Know Which Tools to Use
Pruning shears can be used on very small growths, while hand-held pruning saws can be used on smaller or larger branches. For significantly larger limbs, a chainsaw may be necessary. Smaller limb pruning and light tree shaping can be done at any time of year, and since the cuts and resulting wounds are smaller, proper timing and technique aren’t as critical.
Don’t Over Prune
If you prune any of your trees, make sure that you don’t remove any more than one-quarter of the tree’s branches at any one time. Over-pruning can cause stress to the tree and damage its circulatory system, leaving it vulnerable to pests and disease.
Regular tree trimming keeps your landscape looking great while promoting healthier, longer-lasting trees. It’s also important because it reduces the likelihood of a failing tree limb damaging your home, vehicle or other property. That’s why having a tree care professional handle this task is helpful.
How to Trim an Oak Tree Without Killing It
Some common mistakes people make when pruning their oak trees include cutting branches too short and not making relief cuts. A relief cut involves removing most of a branch’s weight to prevent the branch from splitting when you make the final pruning cut. These mistakes can leave oak trees vulnerable to disease, rot and insect infestation.
Trust Your Trees to ABC
If you don’t have the time, skills or tools to preserve the value of your trees, let the experienced and skilled specialists at ABC Home & Commercial Services take care of your tree care and trimming. Not only do our tree pros know when and how to prune all kinds of trees, even citrus trees, but they can also advise you on the best trees to plant on your property and how to take care of them all year long.
