Beat the winter blues with proper pruning

Winter is usually a time when people think about what they will do in their yard once the snow melts. They think about what they will plant, what they will trim, and how they might arrange things once that first blade of grass pokes through the melting snow. Truth be told, there really isn’t any reason to wait for the snow to start melting before you start landscaping. This is especially true with pruning.

Trees that lose their leaves in the winter are the best ones to prune. Bare branches allow for easy access to trimming. You’ll also be able to see which branches need to be trimmed and which ones need to be left alone. Trees enjoy the stimulation of a fresh cut in the winter as they prepare to absorb the frozen water surrounding their trunks once it melts.

A warmer winter day can be a good time to accomplish structural pruning and reshaping of most ornamental trees and shrubs, including crab apples, magnolias, viburnums and dogwoods.

Oils professionally applied during the dormant season, especially in the late winter when the temperatures are just above freezing, are effective for controlling unwanted pests such as aphids, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies, adelgids, caterpillar eggs, leafhoppers, and mites. If you are interested in tree and shrub pruning or oil applications, contact your LawnCare by Walter team. Our licensed technicians will evaluate your property and give you an estimate. You can also inquire about our ongoing maintenance programs for pruning.