Why the Fall and Winter Months are the Best Time to Trim Your Trees

With each passing day, the temperature outside continues to drop and most trees are one good breeze away from shedding the rest of their leaves. For many, the winter months are a time when all you want to do is curl up in a blanket with a steaming mug of hot chocolate in your hand and your favorite Christmas movie playing on TV. The last thing you may want to think about is yard work, but it can actually be the best time of year to check items off of your list. In the winter months, the photosynthesis process comes to a halt and trees stop growing. This dormant season is the perfect time to grab your shears and trim up any branches that might need some special attention. At Ben & Annies Trees for Tomorrow, we’ve put together a few things to keep in mind when taking on this last minute landscaping activity. 

Winter Months are Less Stressful

For trees, the winter months are a time to relax and unwind. They typically spend much of the summer working overtime, especially with the Texas heat blaring down on them, so the winter months give the trees a moment of reprieve from the excessive heat, insect activity and fungal and bacterial pests that potentially damage the trees during the summer months. With all of the stress already placed on the tree during the summer months, waiting to trim your trees during the winter time gives them ample time to recuperate from any trimming wounds early in the season therefore helping to avoid additional infestation and rot when the weather begins to heat back up. 

Keep an Eye on Winter Storms

The weather in Texas can sometimes be unpredictable, which is why it’s important to be proactive in getting your trees trimmed before a winter storm hits. Removing broken and dead branches from your trees before a strong winter wind comes through your neighborhood better protects your family and your home against any potential damage from falling tree limbs.

How to Spot Broken and Dead Tree Branches

It may seem like dead tree branches are easier to spot in the summer months since a common sign is that they begin to lose their leaves, so how are you supposed to know if you have a dead tree branch when all of the leaves have fallen off in the fall and winter? A few ways to check your tree would be to see if any branches are visibly losing their bark, see if you can spot any discoloration or holes where the bark has fallen off as that indicates that the spot could be rotted and see if any fungus activity is happening on the branches (visible mushrooms, etc.). If you’re still not sure whether what you’re seeing indicates a dead or dying tree branch, it’s never a bad idea to call and have a professional come to your property and take a look at what needs to be done to ensure that you and your family stay safe this winter. 

At Ben & Annies Trees for Tomorrow, our mission is not only focused on encouraging builders to partner with us in order to replace trees that have been impacted by home construction, but also to encourage people everywhere to understand how we can all do our part in bettering our neighborhoods and the planet. If you’d like to make a donation to our cause or want to know more about what we do, we’d love to hear from you.