Yard work is probably not your top priority in the dead of winter, but believe it or not, winter is actually the ideal time to prune your trees. It’s also a great time to invest in gutter screens, so your gutters will be protected against clogs from fallen leaves in a few weeks when spring showers arrive.
In today’s post, the experts at Gutter Helmet® explain the ins and outs of tree trimming and why late winter is the best time to do it.
The Importance of Tree Trimming
Tree trimming doesn’t just give your landscape a cleaner, prettier look – it also fosters healthy growth for your trees. Here are five reasons trimming your trees is so important.
-
Beautifies Your Yard: Removing dead limbs and other branches growing unevenly gives your trees a more lush appearance, which boosts the overall aesthetic appeal of your yard.
-
Prevents Disease: Failure to prune your trees results in branches crossing over each other, creating friction that wears away at the bark. This can make the tree vulnerable to insect infestation and disease.
-
Promotes Healthy Growth: Pruning encourages healthy and vigorous new growth in tree branches. It also strengthens the roots of the tree.
-
Makes Your Yard Safer: Dead branches present a safety hazard, as they can become dislodged from the tree during a storm and fall on your home. Pruning prevents this hazard.
-
Allows for Better Views: Is a large tree in your yard blocking a beautiful view? Rather than removing the tree, simply pruning it back a bit can reveal the view, enhancing the overall appeal of your landscape.
The Best Time to Prune Your Trees
Many homeowners believe that fall is the best time to prune their trees, but this is a misconception. In the fall, spores from fungi are prevalent, making your trees more susceptible to rot and slower to heal. It’s best to leave your trees untouched during this season.
It seems counterintuitive that winter would be the ideal time to take care of any yard work, but so it is with tree pruning. During the winter, your trees are dormant, meaning they aren’t growing or producing fruit. Pruning sets the stage for vibrant, healthy growth when spring arrives a few weeks later.
Prepare for Spring Now
After pruning your trees this winter, we recommend one more step to ensure you are prepared for spring: installing Gutter Helmet, a high-quality gutter guard that more effectively protects your gutters from clogs than a leaf filter. Installed directly above your existing gutters, Gutter Helmet stops leaves and other debris from entering your system, thus keeping your gutters open and free so they can channel precipitation away from your home as they’re designed to do. This will boost your home’s protection against the strong storms and heavy rainfall that are characteristic of spring.
Call us today at (800) 824-3772 to learn more about how Gutter Helmet can strengthen your home’s defense against the elements. We can also provide a free estimate.
