What is the best time of the year to trim dead branches from a tree or does it matter?

Answer 1

Late fall. Or else new branches will just keep growing anyway. Also poison ivy starts dying off by then. (I just got poison ivy real bad again because it was growing in vines around the tree I cut down. I thought it was just a regular vine, but apparently it is one of poison ivy's relatives).

We usually do all our yardwork around late fall because then it doesn't grow back as quickly or have other things grow in it's place. Many times plants and trees drop seeds as you shake them around trying to cut them down and then they grow faster and more of them.

Answer 2

Winter is not a good time to trim the dead branches: If there are no leaves cause its winter, there is no way of knowing whether you are trimming the right branches.

Late fall, as the leaves are changing is the best time. You can still tell which are the live ones, but they are in the process of going dormant so will not bleed heavily.

Avoid pruning in the spring unless you really know what you are doing.

It requires a lot of energy for the tree to throw out its first buds of the year. Once those buds emerge, the tree should not be trimmed as they have already expended lots of energy and may not be able to send out a full set of new buds again (also can leadto deformed leaves). If dome to late, it may not bud for up to several months which can lead to problems the next year.

As they emerge a few weeks prior to leafing, this can be hard to time.

If you do not mind trimming live branches, or are trimming the whole tree, the middle of the winter (January, February) are best. Otherwise, do it in the late fall.

Answer 3

If the branches are truly dead then, no, it doesn't matter but usually you will be cutting them back to live wood so the best time to do it is in the autumn or winter when the sap has stopped rising and the tree is dormant.

Answer 4

If the branch is dead, go ahead anytime, if the limb is live avoid times of high sap flow like spring. Winter is usually a good time when the tree is semi dormant.

Answer 5

I prefer to cut out dead branches in cooler weather because it is HOT here.
Dead branches ARE easier to spot during the growing season however.
You can trim dead branches anytime that is convenient for you. Live branches are a whole 'nother story.

Answer 6

what type of tree is it ? - if in flower trim when flowering has ended or trim October time when getting ready for winter - also some trees like an extra trim at beginning of spring - if first time trim then dont cut back to hard - let it breathe for a season. good luck

Answer 7

the finest time to prune fruit trees is interior the wintry climate even as they're dormant. First trim the water sprouts, also widespread as suckers, and the useless branches. next get rid of branches that bypass different branches. After that get rid of branches that enhance in the direction of the middle of the tree. the article is to enable sunlight and air get to the middle of the tree. that is a thanks to prune apple and pear trees. i'd assume that plum and peach trees will be pruned an same way.

Answer 8

I was told that you should trim shrubs and trees in the spring. After the last freeze, but before the growing season get into full swing.

I assume this is when the trees/shrubs are the most active in their growth and so they are better able to recover.

Answer 9

Winter. The dead branches won't be affected but you always run the risk of accidentally cutting a live one. (happens to me all the time) During winter the tree's asleep so the live ones won't be affected.

Answer 10

Anytime.