Minnesota winters are harsh, characterized by below-freezing temperatures and feet of snow. Despite the harsh conditions, tree pruning and removal is still an option.

Can tree care be done during the winter?

It’s a common misconception that tree maintenance stops during the winter months. However, there are many benefits to performing tree pruning and tree removal work during the winter.

Similar to a bear’s hibernation, trees enter a state of dormancy during the winter months. This means they’ve halted active growth and hunkered down for the cold weather. When a tree enters dormancy, its metabolism and energy consumption slow, allowing it to rest. Leaves, flowers, and fruit need energy to grow, so trees shed them in colder months to conserve energy. Pruning during dormancy has several benefits.

Customers often ask us how we know whether trees are dead or alive during the winter. To an arborist, it’s clear as day. Live branches have pliable twigs, with buds present for next year’s leaves. Dead branches lack buds, have the tips often broken off, or bark missing. Once you know what to look for, dead branches’ silhouettes look pretty different from live branches.

Pruning trees in the winter.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the late winter is the ideal time to prune trees. When done by a professional, pruning in the winter is less risky to tree health.

Trees are dormant in the winter months. Pruning a tree right before it comes out of dormancy allows it to begin sealing wounds as soon as it becomes active in the spring. The tree can then put its energy toward producing new growth as spring rolls on.

Removing dead or dying branches increases a home’s curb appeal and decreases a tree’s risk of harm from diseases and pests. It opens up tree canopies, increasing airflow and light to interior stems and branches. Light and air speed evaporation can reduce diseases caused by bacteria and fungal pathogens. This means higher quality flowers, leaves, and fruit in the springtime.

Increased visibility of tree structure.

Proper pruning involves making the right cuts in the right places to improve tree structure and direct future growth. Dormant trees, except for evergreens, don’t have foliage. It’s much easier to see a tree’s structure without leaves covering branches. This allows arborists to spot dead branches and identify the best places to prune to maintain and develop structural integrity. It also lets us do a better quality job, making pruning more effective and mitigating risk.

Less risk of pests.

Performing tree maintenance in the winter can decrease the risk of pests and disease issues. Open wounds caused by pruning can attract pests. In the summer, beetles feed on tree sap, which is present in new wounds. These beetles can spread oak wilt from infected to non-infected trees. These insects aren’t active during winter, so oaks should only be pruned in winter.

It’s less stressful on trees.

Pruning during the growing season can cause stress for your trees. A tree’s normal reaction to pruning is to stimulate new growth and close the wound made by the pruning cut. Pruning before buds open in the spring leads to optimal wound closure. Trees go dormant during the winter months. Because the tree is dormant, pruning doesn’t stimulate new growth. The new growth doesn’t occur until spring, when the tree can access the sunlight and nutrients it needs. With high energy reserves, trees are able to seal wounds quickly, reducing future stress on the tree.

Improves safety.

Wind, ice, and snow paired with damaged or dying trees can pose a safety hazard to you, your family, and your property during winter. Dormant pruning removes hazards before they can compromise the safety of your property.

More time to enjoy the summer weather.

In Minnesota, winters can be long and summers short. If you wait until the spring or summer to do tree maintenance, you’ll miss out on time spent enjoying your yard. Take care of your trees in the winter so you and your family can enjoy using your yard all summer.

Winter tree removals.

The cold winter months are also ideal for removing unwanted, damaged, or dying trees from your property. Snow cover and frozen ground reduce impacts on landscapes and allow more efficient use of equipment to remove trees.

Less damage to the landscape.

In Minnesota, the cold winter temperatures cause the ground to freeze. This means less risk of damage to your landscape from the use of heavy tree removal equipment. This is especially true for removing large trees in backyards and other areas requiring moving equipment off pavement.

Vineland Tree Care’s ISA Certified Arborists are here to help answer any questions about working with trees during our long, cold winters. Contact us today to set an appointment with an arborist to review your trees’ needs.