Did you know that winter is a great time to prune your trees and shrubs? Milwaukee winters are rough for outdoor work and landscaping, but there are some benefits to pruning your trees in the winter.
One reason is that you simply have better access to areas that you would not be able to reach with your equipment. You also can see what your doing better, with no leaves obstruction your views, you can see structural problems and helps with making pruning decisions.
The plants are also in their dormant period. Wounds will only be exposed for a short time and insects are also dormant over the winter so new growth will be able to seal the wounds quickly in the spring. It also invigorates many trees and shrubs because it leaves the plants with extra root and energy reserves that will support new growth on the remaining branches.
Here is a list of trees and shrubs that you can prune in the winter:
- Barberries
- Glossy abelia
- Beauty berries
- Camellias (after they finish blooming)
- Hydrangeas
- European hornbeam
- Euonymous
- Mallow
- Bradford and Callory pears
- Crabapples
- Poplar
- Spruce
- Junipers
- Sumacs
- Bald cypress
- Cherries
- Plums
- Honey locust
Some trees ooze a lot of sap when pruned late in the winter or early spring. While this isn’t dangerous to the tree, it can make a sticky and dirty mess. It would be a better idea to prune these in the summer or fall:
- Maples
- Birches
- Dogwoods
- Walnuts
- Elms
Nelson’s Landscaping and Snow removal is available all year for any of your Pruning or Landscaping needs. Serving Milwaukee, Mequon, Shorewood and Surrounding areas. Feel free to contact us!