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6 Signs: When Is A Good Time To Trim Trees?

Resources: Tree Trimming

Trimming or pruning your tree every 3-5 years is the general advice given by Certified Arborists; however, how often you need to trim your trees, or when is a good time to trim your trees, can vary based on species, age, environmental factors, and aesthetic preference.

The best way to know exactly when is a good time to trim trees is to take a close look at your tree and its branches. Read on to learn the what signs to look for that indicate your tree needs pruning.

When Is A Good Time To Trim Trees 1

1. Broken Branches

Broken or limp tree branches are often caused by heavy snow or wind. They are hazardous, as they are at high risk of falling and injuring people or animals, and should be removed as soon as possible.

Since branches typically break during storms, it’s a good idea to give your tree a close inspection after a big storm and even have an arborist come out and evaluate the tree if you are unsure of its health.

2. Crossing Branches

When Is A Good Time To Trim Trees 2

Crossing branches can occur when a tree hasn’t been trimmed in a while. When branches cross they touch and rub against each other. This damages the exterior bark and exposes the interior of the branch. These wounds are targets for insects, diseases, and fungi.

Once infection or infestation begins in that branch it can spread to other parts of the tree causing decay. If you see crossing branches in your tree it’s important to get them trimmed out asap before too much damage occurs.

3. Deadwood

When Is A Good Time To Trim Trees 3

Stray branches of deadwood are common in trees but if you start to see large amounts of deadwood or clusters of deadwood it’s a sign your tree needs to be trimmed.

In summer, it can be easy to spot deadwood because these branches will not have any leaves or buds on them. In the winter or early spring they can be harder to spot for many homeowners.

To identify deadwood when leaves aren’t on the tree, look for branches that are a different color or texture than the rest of the live branches. If you can reach the branches in question gently try bending them. Deadwood is brittle and will typically break when bent. As deadwood is a hazard, it needs to be removed as soon as possible.

Do your trees need to be trimmed?

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4. Branch Density

When Is A Good Time To Trim Trees 4

Airflow in the canopy of a tree is essential to keep the tree healthy and prevent fungal diseases. If the tree’s canopy becomes too dense this airflow doesn’t occur and  leaves will end up staying wet days after rain which can leading to fungal diseases.

In dense canopies, branches are also more likely to catch the wind and become hazardous during storms.

A good rule of thumb to see if your canopy is too dense is whether or not you can see through it when it’s fully leafed out in the summer. If you can’t see parts of the sky through your tree’s canopy it’s too dense.

5. Encroaching Branches

When Is A Good Time To Trim Trees 5

Trees have a mind of their own and often have wandering branches that don’t respect the boundaries of our homes and electrical lines. Tree placed relatively close to homes at some point will have branches that start to encroach on power lines and surrounding structures.

These encroaching branches can easily take out power lines during storms and can damage shingles and siding. Fortunately, these branches can easily be trimmed back away from the structure/power line.

On top of pruning, a tree growth regulator can be used to slow the tree’s growth. This will help prevent the issue from happening again in the future.

6. Misshapen Tree

When Is A Good Time To Trim Trees 6

When not trimmed regularly, trees may grow in odd ways that can become dangerous. Whether it’s due to human or environmental factors, trees can become misshapen which causes an issue with weight distribution.

Incorrect weight distribution in a tree can lead to limbs breaking under the weight of the tree, cracks in the trunk, and other issues that could lead to injury or property damage.

If your tree has begun growing in an odd direction or is starting to lean, it may be a sign it needs pruning to redistribute the tree’s weight.


Wondering when is a good time to trim trees? Take a look at the 6 signs and see if your tree needs help from their tree doctor. If it does, our tree service experts are here to help!

You can get a free tree trimming estimate by booking an appointment with one of our Certified Arborists today; call us at 703-573-3029 or book online to get started.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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