When it comes to pruning trees, timing is everything. It's generally best to trim trees in the dormant season when deciduous trees don't have leaves. However, there are certain situations in which pruning trees in summer is necessary. If your tree has been damaged during a summer storm, you should prune the necessary branches as soon as it's safe to do so.
There are also certain trees that should always be pruned in summer, and unavoidable situations in which a tree needs to be pruned no matter what time of year it is. It's important to note that when utility companies are trimming trees to cut them down, they don't necessarily take aesthetics into consideration. For the tree to be healthy, it is necessary for an ISA-certified arborist to inspect the tree, observe its growth and carefully trim it to remove any dangerous branches, lift the crown to an optimal level and have the right shape so that it looks beautiful for years to come. When it comes to summer tree pruning goals, these should be to thin out the crown, lift them up, remove crossed branches that may cause growth problems in the future, reduce the size of the tree (if desired) and, in general, update the shape of the tree.
Before pruning the lower branches or any other part of the tree, an arborist should evaluate it first. It's important to remember that oak trees have a disease called oak wilt, which is spread by pests and could infect and even kill oak trees that are pruned between April and October. Therefore, if you're dealing with an oak tree, you should avoid pruning it during this time period. When it comes to transplanting a tree, you must cut a third of the crown so that the tree can survive the “shock” of being transplanted.
Many believe that the best time of year to prune trees is as soon as the bright leaves begin to fall. In conclusion, while it's generally best to trim trees in the dormant season when deciduous trees don't have leaves, there are certain situations in which pruning trees in summer is necessary. If your tree has been damaged during a summer storm or if you're dealing with an oak tree, you should take extra care when considering when to prune your tree.
