Winter Pruning

Tree care often goes neglected when it’s cold outside and trees are dormant. Unfortunately, this lack of attention can actually predispose trees to winter injury and storm damage. For instance, trees that are not properly pruned to remove dead wood and structurally weak branches can cause significant property damage during a storm. Efforts to maintain tree health now can improve vitality and reduce unnecessary risk. The following practices are recommended:

• identify and manage over-wintering pest populations
• prune dead, broken and interfering branches
• check for structural weaknesses and install cables or braces if necessary
• replenish mulch to give root systems an extra layer of warmth
• wrap evergreens to prevent animal damage and keep deicing salts away from plantings