What Is Dormant Pruning?
What You Need To Know About Dormant Pruning
Trees, bushes, and other plants can enliven a yard with beauty and natural appeal. However, it can be easy to neglect your trees and shrubbery during a plant’s “resting season,” which falls between late autumn and early spring. The best way to tend to your plants during this period is by dormant pruning.
Simply put, dormant pruning is the act of pruning your trees and plants during their resting period to ensure they’re kept under control when flowers bloom and leaves regrow. Keep reading for more information on this technique and why it’s an important addition to your landscaping routine. Do you need help with yard upkeep? Rely on Wheat’s Landscape for professional trimming and pruning services.
Why You Should Prune Your Trees & Shrubs During the Dormant Season
While trimming and pruning your trees and shrubs during the dormant season heightens aesthetics, it also promotes many other benefits. Proper maintenance of your trees and shrubbery during the resting period offers these perks:
- Better growth: When trees and shrubs rest, they can heal easier, meaning they’ll bounce back better by springtime.
- Disease prevention: Fresh trims during the warmer seasons are more prone to insects that carry tree-killing bacteria and fungi. Pruning in the colder seasons will better prevent this.
- Safety: With more visibility while cutting, you’re at reduced risk of injuring yourself.
- Easier pruning: When trees are bare, it’s much easier to see which branches need to be cut, allowing for more precise cuts.
Best Times To Dormant Prune
The best time to prune your plants is during the “resting” period when they’re dormant and not yet regrowing. This time frame falls between late fall and early spring. Dormant pruning between late November and early March is a good rule of thumb.
Expert Pruning Tips
Now that you know the benefits of dormant pruning, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with other tips and tricks for proper technique. Keep these factors in mind each time you take on a pruning project:
- Use sharp, clean tools: Using the right tool for the job makes a huge difference in safety and efficiency. Only use sharp, clean tools to complete the project.
- Prune to an outward-facing bud: Cut just above where you want the new bud to grow and in the direction you want it to grow.
- Cut at the right angle: Cut at a 45° angle so the cut slants away from the bud for proper regrowth.
- Prune weak growth: Cut any weakened stems and branches to even out plant growth.
- Improve air circulation: Remove shoots growing in the center of plants to promote better air circulation and sun exposure.
Schedule Professional Pruning & Trimming With Wheat’s Landscape
Implementing essential maintenance practices throughout the year is key to getting the most out of your exterior landscaping. For expert pruning and trimming performed by a team of professionals, Wheat’s Landscape has you covered. In business since 1978, our full-service design/build company has the right tools and knowledge to handle landscaping projects big and small. When you work with us, your dream landscape is our top priority.
Get your exterior landscape in shape with professional pruning services from Wheat’s Landscape. Schedule with our team today!
