If you’ve visited our blog before, you know we discuss tree pruning often—and for good reasons. It’s one of the most effective forms of tree care. It’s just about the only thing that can prevent the spread of disease, encourage new and healthier growth, and keep your trees from imposing on the exterior features of your home.
In this post, we’ll discuss the frequency with which you should be pruning your trees. We’ll also touch on when it may be time to break that basic timeline and plan for early pruning. So let’s dive in.
The General Pruning Timeline for Healthy Trees
Depending on the age and maturity of your trees, their pruning requirements might differ slightly. But in general, most arborists will suggest the following:
- Mature Trees—Should be pruned or trimmed every 3-5 years.
- Juvenile Trees—Should be pruned or trimmed every 2-3 years.
We know what you’re thinking—if I only have to do this every few years, what’s the big deal? It’s a fair question. And we know It may be hard to see the importance of routine pruning at first. But when you provide this type of care to your trees, it offers them a host of benefits, including:
- Allows juvenile trees to grow and mature properly.
- Thins out dense canopies, giving trees more sustenance.
- Increases airflow for trees and eliminates weak or diseased branches.
And the list goes on and on. Pruning your trees regularly is incredibly beneficial to your tall, green friends. It’s essential to make it a part of your home maintenance routine.
Signs It’s Time To Prune Your Trees Earlier Than Expected
The general timeline is an excellent jumping-off point and works well for healthy trees. But there are instances where you may need to plan for pruning long before the recommended two to five-year mark.
Most often, people find themselves in this situation when their trees are showing severe signs of:
- Disease (dying, weak, or decaying branches or trunk).
- Infestations (insects, parasitic or invasive plants).
- Overgrowth (sprouting, dense canopies).
You may also need to plan for immediate pruning if you notice that your tree is becoming misshapen. If your trees start to look unhealthy, infested, or overgrown, don’t wait for the two to five-year mark. Call your local arborist and have them take care of it as soon as possible.
Other Considerations
There are considerations to make outside routine pruning and pruning as a result of damage or disease. For instance, if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, tropical storms, or tornadoes, having your trees pruned every storm season might benefit you.
Doing so can help prevent unnecessary damage to your home. If a storm has already blown through or you experienced a hard freeze, and you suspect your trees might have been damaged, this is another reason to prune.
How often you should prune your trees depends on the needs of your specific plants. In any case, if you live in Austin and are looking for arborists with pruning experience, give SID Mourning Trees a call. We’ll set you up with our Austin, Texas, tree pruning services.