Dormant Season Tree Pruning

When More is Less and Less is More...

By Wendell Phillips Berwick

We welcomed the majesty of a colorful Missouri fall, that moved into another generally short lived Missouri style winter, when our rich urban forest is ‘asleep’ and can’t feel a thing…such as chainsaws, hand saws and pole saws. But as forgiving as a tree can be, it’s best to not prune at all than to prune it wrong. No one likes to wake up in SHOCK, not even a TREE.

Timing. Removal of live branches should be few and far between during growing season. All in all, trimming is best done during dormancy, when a tree’s life sustenance is

When removing a limb, look for the swollen area at the connection point, and make your cut just beyond that point.

in storage in the root zones, in layman’s term; “When the sap’s down”. (Hazard deadwood can be pruned anytime.) I want to stress that it’s a shock to the tree to remove lots of live limbs EXCEPT during wintertime. Plus, open wounds during the growing season invite potential for pests and disease. Homeowners often have trees “topped” in order to reduce the risk of large limbs falling on their homes. In fact the practice results in new limbs that are weakly attached and even more prone to breakage. Plus it destroys a tree’s natural form.

are tree lovers, we would have our heads in the fallen leaves and snow if we didn’t recognize that our largest woody perennials can become hazardous if not properly maintained and periodically inspected. But if you’re concerned about trees hanging over structures, or simply want to let a little more sunlight reach the ground, please hang up on any arborists who suggest “tree topping” as a solution. (That’s when the entire canopy is given a buzz job.) Long lateral limbs prone to breaking from wind or ice can be properly reduced with the tree still left looking like a tree.

Prune Properly. Tree branches are genetically designed to seal over properly placed pruning wounds. But when they are not trimmed accordingly, for example when a limb larger than 5 inches in diameter is ‘flush cut’ back to the trunk,

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the pruning wound decays and a hollow eventually develops, leaving an opening in the tree’s defenses against pest and disease.

Start Early. It’s better for the health and longevity of the tree to ‘train’ trees earlier than later. That way, as the tree grows, it can be maintained with removal of smaller branches rather than cutting off large limbs and sections. Corrective pruning may include removal of crossing branches, training a single leader, and more. When thinking that ‘you get what you pay for’, consider that when it comes to trimming trees, more is less and less is more.

Hire a Pro. Finally, be safe! If trimming involves a ladder and a chain saw, it’s best to leave the job to the pros.

Wendell Phillips Berwick is an Arborist, Artist and selfproclaimed Abolitionist, and is founder of Living Tree Care.