Best Time to Prune Trees in New Braunfels

So why is caring for your trees super important? Well, not only is it a life source for you, but also for the animals that dwell inside it. Birds and squirrels love the trees, and making sure your trees are able to make great habitats for them is very important for the ecosystem. Keeping care of your trees is super important, so here is one way that you can easily keep your tree healthy and in shape to live a long life.

Pruning your tree is an amazingly simple way to keep it healthy and thriving. Oak trees require pruning in order to keep them in the best shape possible, which is always what you want to do. Oak trees grow very slow, so having to plant a new one takes years to grow up just a little bit. Mature oak trees don’t usually need as much pruning as young growing oak trees, but still require some attention at certain points. 

​If you decide to prune your own trees, it is always best to remember to never cut off more than a quarter of the tree branches length. This makes sure that no additional stress is put onto the tree on top of what you are already doing. If you cut off too much of the trees branches, it could harm the tree and its lifespan.​

But not only is it important to make sure you don’t cut off too much of the branches, but also the time period in which you do it. Pruning your trees in the correct season is a simple way to prevent extra stress on the tree, and will help preserve it for a longer amount of time. One thing to remember is to never ever prune your tree during the spring time. During this time of year, it is very easy for the oak trees to contract oak wilt, so reducing that risk by not pruning is the best solution to prevent oak wilt in the first place.

​The time in which you should prune your tree truly depends on the climate and the coldest months. Here in Texas, it doesn’t get as cold as it would in other states up north, so talking to an arborist about the best time to prune in your area is a good idea.​

During the spring, the trees natural healing processes will kick in, and the work that you did during the winter will be sealed up with new growth in no time. The sap will begin flowing once again, and the tree will repair itself naturally and safely. Another great reason to prune during the winter is because there won’t be as many or any leaves at all on the tree. This means that you will be able to see more of what you need to prune and get the job done faster. So not only is the winter safer to prune in, but can also be faster than any other season.

​Since the coldest weather comes in at different times for different places, it’s always best to contact your arborist before doing the job yourself. Hopefully after you prune your own trees, the temperature doesn’t suddenly become warm bringing bugs back out to wreak havoc onto your trees. However, if this does occur, you can always grab some wound sealer and paint it over the open limbs that you cut to prevent any potential diseases from entering the tree through its vulnerable spots.