A common tree pruning myth is that you should never do it in the summer. While the ideal time for pruning is in winter when the trees are dormant, you can enjoy all the benefits of this tree care task when you do it in the summertime.  

Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you decide whether or not to go ahead with your summer tree pruning and if yes, the best way to go about it.

Safety First and Always

Remove any broken, dying, or dead limbs as soon as you spot them. These pose a serious safety risk as they may easily fall off and hurt someone or fall onto a parked vehicle or your house, causing damage. 

The damage can happen following a storm, which is quite common in the summer. Pests and disease, as well as not getting enough sunlight or food, can cause your tree branches to die. Whatever the reason, act fast and schedule tree pruning to remove these dangerously hanging limbs.

Avoid Heavy Pruning

All heavy tree pruning should wait until your tree is dormant. If you go hard with your summer pruning, you will end up straining your tree too much, and your tree may not be as full the next year. Why? Your trees will not get enough food to sustain growth as aggressive pruning will take away most of the leaf cover.

Consider the Type of Tree

While you may be able to get away with pruning some trees in the summer, provided you do it well, summer pruning may be a big no for some tree varieties, except for safety reasons. On that list are elm and oak trees. 

Why? Introducing open pruning trees, especially in the summer, exposes these trees to the risk of some diseases. The Dutch elm and oak wilt diseases can be highly detrimental to your trees' health and may even cause their death. 

If you must prune these trees for safety reasons, take precautions such as using a pruning wound protectant to keep out the disease-causing pests so the wounds can heal faster with minimized risk of infection. Additionally, the tree pruning team must watch their technique. Smaller cuts at the branch collar are preferable over making large cuts, especially anywhere close to the tree trunk.

Hire Professionals

As outlined, summer tree pruning requires careful attention to detail. You cannot afford to make any mistakes, which is why you should hire highly skilled and experienced tree care specialists for the job. Do it right, and you can control pests, encourage growth and ensure your tree is strong.

To learn more, contact a tree maintenance service in your area.

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