Staying Trim: Winter Pruning of Fruit and Pine Trees

The trees on your property can benefit from regular pruning and that includes your fruit and pine trees. Plants, naturally less active during the winter months, also have less fluid moving through the branches. Pruning of some tree types during cooler winter months can be less stressful than pruning during the active growing season.

Let the Sun Shine In

Apples, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches and nectarines should all be pruned in the winter to maintain a more open structure.

Also known as thinning, this pruning process involves the removal of branches in the upper, outer portions of the canopy as well as twiggy growth removal in the center of the tree. The goal with this type of pruning is to increase sunlight penetration to the inner portion and lower branches of the tree.

Thinning and Reducing Height In Fruit Trees

When fruit trees become overgrown, the risk of heavy branches breaking due to the weight of the fruit increases. Crown reduction in some cases can control limb failure and increase fruit production. Certified arborists at ValleyCrest Tree Care Services can advise you of the appropriate pruning measures required to maintain your fruit trees.

Pruning Pines For Size and Health

With professional pruning, pine trees can be balanced and shaped for their allotted spaces. It’s also imperative to prune or fully remove weak or injured pine branches as these portions are prone to insect attacks.

Branches that sweep the ground can be pruned or removed to make mowing and basic clean-up underneath pine trees easier. Crown cleaning can remove dead or damaged branches, reducing landscape litter and resulting in a more attractive tree.