Dormant tree pruning time is here.

[Powerstroke]

While attending to my annual ice dam maintenance I started making mental notes of the branches I need to remove from my American Elm tree to keep it from drooping and rubbing on the roof and gutters in the summer.

During the winter is the ideal time to do almost every kind of tree pruning. About the only thing that should wait would be evergreens. Outside of that, it is the perfect time to call around for a few quotes or pull out the saws for the do-it-yourself jobs. This time of year most of the tree companies are starting to run low on work since they've completed the jobs they had scheduled from last year and most people either don't know or forget that their trees might need some attention. Its a great time to get competitive bids for larger jobs or ones that require some technical expertise.

Winter is also an ideal time to review your trees because they are easy to view without any leaves on them. Obvious items to look for are dead or broken branches. With the heavy snow and ice earlier in Nov. there are many people with broken limbs still hanging out there. Dead branches are more difficult to spot if you're unfamiliar with how they look. Spot branches with broken tips, peeling bark that is not normal or branches with abnormal fungus on them. Arborists will look for branches without buds on them.

Other things to consider for pruning would be issues of density, branch weight, branches rubbing and structural "defects". These items are more for residential settings where "wild" trees aren't always desirable.

Trees that are too "thick" may catch too much wind and be more susceptible to wind damage or fungus. Thinning will open up the inside of the canopy, allow for better airflow and may allow for more sunshine to reach the ground. Its important to avoid thinning too much and leaving only a small amount of foliage on the tips of the branches, commonly called lion-tailing. Even with proper pruning, branches can become too heavy and hang too low in the yard or develop branches growing downwards. Rather than cut the entire branch off it could be possible to prune the branch to lighten it up and reduce the downward growth. This is very common on ash and oak trees.

Rubbing branches can cause wounds on the branches and create weak points. Other structural defects such as hollow pockets, cankers, weak crotches and multiple stems can be problematic on landscape trees that threaten your home and landscape.

I realize the last couple items there are debatable on their necessity. However, anyone who has had a branch or whole tree fall on their house, garage, shed or deck knows what's at risk and many times, the people affected knew that their tree was weak. Whole trees do not uproot and tip over unless there is extreme wind or a combination of wind and saturated ground or a weak or compromised root system.

I realize that money is tight, but that's exactly why its a good time to get multiple opinions and bids. Most major cities and suburbs have a city forester on their staff that can answer questions. They are a free resource.

Tree work is a little more technical than most people think, especially if its in a residential setting. Avoiding hazards such as utilities and working around buildings and other landscape items like gazebos, decks, low-voltage lighting and of course other ornamental trees and shrubs is important. Proper cuts will ensure proper and faster healing.

One final reason to have your work done this time of year is that there is less chance of damaging your lawn because the ground is frozen. It is easier to get heavy equipment into places they couldn't reach in the summer and it might lower the price. Driving a bucket truck in for pruning or dropping a whole tree rather than lowering the branches by rope can save time and money this time of year.

[B. Amish]

i have a mugo pine hedge. can these things be pruned. it's getting a bit overgrown for it's location. approaching 6-7' in diameter and height.

[pureinsanity]

Im not sure on specifics of pruning that type of shrub. I don't see a problem pruning it anytime. However, I do know that in spring removal of the new candles will slow the growth rate further. Thus your hedge wont grow as fast.

[Powerstroke]

Mughos can generally be done at any time, but since they still have their "leaves" its best to wait till spring and prune them when losing moisture won't be as large of a stressor.

Be careful with pines because they tend to thin out on the inside. You may be able to prune it back some, but it is not the type of shrub that you can whack a large portion of and expect it to return. Treat it like a tree.