With spring on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about your landscaping again. In today’s blog, we will talk about an important step you can take right now: pruning your trees and shrubs!
Pruning trees and shrubs in March and April is one of the best choices you can make. You don't just have to take our word for it! Read on to learn why this time of year is perfect for spring pruning.
BETTER SHAPING
At this time of year, most native trees and shrubs haven't regrown their full foliage. Without the presence of a thick canopy of leaves, it's much easier to see the branches of your trees and shrubs, regardless of how big they are.
One of the primary reasons for pruning is to create a more visually appealing shape. Pruning can also help correct or control growing patterns that threaten your trees, shrubs, and surrounding property (i.e. trees with lopsided growth that may fall if left unattended). When the branches are bare or mostly bare, it's much easier to see the growth pattern the branches are following and remove unwanted or risky growth.
A BURST OF SPRING GROWTH
In the winter, many trees and shrubs go dormant, meaning they don't experience new growth for a few months. Before this occurs, you want to encourage outer growth to convert and store plenty of energy to support the root system below. However, once the growing cycle returns, you can make choices to encourage exterior growth, and pruning is one of them.
When a woody plant like a tree or shrub is pruned, you'll often see a sudden burst of growth around the cut areas as the plant attempts to balance out the exterior canopy with the root system below. Plus, the tree or shrub can focus its resources on desirable growth with unwanted branches out of the way.
MINIMAL PESTS
In Edmonton, March and April are still on the cooler side with low temperatures still hovering between -5 and 10 degrees Celsius. Thanks to these overnight drops, you won't see a ton of pests yet.
This is helpful when pruning shrubs and trees because the temporary "wounds" left behind after pruning can attract nesting pests. The risk of developing a pest problem in early spring is significantly lower than it is in late spring and summer.
READY TO START YOUR SPRINGTIME PRUNING?
Spring is just around the corner, and it's the perfect time to prepare your yard for new growth. If you want your trees and shrubs to flourish, don't miss the chance to prune them in March and April. You don't have to tackle this task on your own - we're here to help!
All Season Tree Services is proud to serve the Edmonton region, including surrounding cities such as Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, and Fort Saskatchewan.
Contact us to schedule professional tree maintenance services today!