Pruning your trees this fall

Fall is the best time of year to prune trees that have related pathogens. Fireblight and Dutch Elm disease are two diseases that have to be taken care of in the dormant season. Many homeowners see the effects of Fireblight in the summer time and become anxious to do something about it, but unfortunately, pruning trees affected by Fireblight during the growing season can make a bad situation even worse. The likelihood of spreading an infection through pruning cuts is high even when special care is taken to clean and sanitize your tools. The dormant season offers a lull in the disease activity and mobility in the environment. The signs and symptoms of Fireblight are also very easy to recognize in the dormant season because the affected tissue often retains the diseased leaf material. Since the rest of the leaves have fallen off it is easier to ensure that more of the pathogen will be removed.

Similarly, pruning our beautiful Elm trees in the dormant season is also ideal. The cold temperatures assure us that the disease is dormant, and likewise the vectoring insect is also not present. When spring comes the trees have time to begin healing the wounds created during the pruning before the beetles begin to spread the disease again. The healthier the trees are, the less likely they are to be attacked by the beetles and infected by Dutch Elm disease.

The list of ideal trees for fall and winter pruning includes: Apple, Crabapple, Elm, Peach, Pear, and Cherry, to name a few. In addition to fall being ideal for disease related pruning, it is also the best time to prepare your trees for the harsh winter storms that are sure to come. It is important to meet with your Arborist in order to assess the health of your plants and formulate a plan for the fall season. Discounts are also in place to save you money by performing pruning operations in the winter season.

Pruning in fall is also a valuable practice to reduce the likelihood of storm damage. October makes us think of candy and Halloween, but as we all know, we can be trick-or-treating in shorts or snow shoes. It is a common for heavy snow storms to show up in early fall and cause severe damage to our trees. Storm damage is often so severe that it forces the complete removal of many trees. Pruning in fall to promote the best limb structure possible will keep the trees balanced and strong to help them withstand whatever Mother Nature can throw at them.