It’s so important that you’re properly pruning the ornamental trees and shrubs on your property. These are often some of the most aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable landscaping elements that homeowners really value.
But pruning ornamental trees, particularly flowering varieties, can lead to some of the most common pruning mistakes that we see. Because flowering trees and shrubs are smaller in size, some homeowners decide to tackle the pruning on their own. This can be okay, if you know what you are doing.
But fully understanding how and when to prune flowering shrubs can be critical to your success.
One of the most frustrating mistakes that can occur when pruning flowering trees is accidentally cutting off developing buds. This can prevent the plant from flowering for the subsequent season, which can be incredibly disappointing. Pruning before flowering must be strategic in terms of timing. In addition, making other pruning mistakes related to technique or even tool usage can be detrimental. While pruning is a highly beneficial service for your trees and shrubs, if performed improperly it can cause major trouble.
In this article, we’ll share some helpful advice on how and when to trim flowering trees so that you can decide if it’s something that you want to do yourself. Often, many homeowners wind up feeling more comfortable turning to a pro, and knowing that the job will get done right.
In this article, we’ll cover:
When to Prune Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Mistakes to Avoid During Ornamental Pruning
Choosing Tree Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
When to Prune Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Knowing exactly when to prune flowering trees is often species dependent. Generally, with spring-flowering trees, you can prune after they have flowered. But there are also some varieties that flower in the summer. With these, it is best to prune in the late winter, before the buds become established.
In general, there are some benefits to winter pruning, which is what we call “dormant pruning.”
When trees enter a dormant stage during the winter, their growth halts. This lack of activity coupled with the fact that trees aren’t dealing with other stressors like heat and drought, create ideal pruning conditions.
Even though pruning has a lot of benefits for trees, it’s also a stressor. Making cuts to the tree does put stress on it. But pruning during a tree’s dormant state minimizes that stress.
It’s also easier to see certain structural defects or potential issues, like crossing branches, when trees are bare. This can make it easier to remove problem areas and make smart cuts.
Mistakes to Avoid During Ornamental Pruning
As we’ve mentioned, one of the biggest mistakes we tend to see with ornamental pruning is when homeowners (or even unskilled landscapers) cut off developing buds. This is a timing issue. You do not want to prune a flowering species after the buds have set.
We also often see pruning errors related to pruning techniques. Certain ornamental trees and shrubs are best hand-pruned while others can handle some gas or electric-powered shears.
No matter what, you should always be pruning with sharp blades. Making cuts with dull blades can do more harm than good. It’s very important to make clean cuts and also to focus on pruning what’s “dead, dying, or diseased.” Don’t prune too much of the tree or shrub at once, as this can be harmful as well.
The frequency of pruning is also important. Some ornamental trees and shrubs require more frequent pruning than others. Since many of these factors are species-based, it’s important to have a good understanding of what your landscape’s specific pruning needs are - knowledge that a certified arborist would have.
Choosing Tree Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
While there are obviously plenty of companies offering pruning and other tree care services, you want to choose the best tree care service out there.
We recommend looking for tree care companies that employ Certified Arborists. This will ensure a high level of expertise.
We also advise seeking companies that are focused on tree care. At Seacoast Tree Care, our focus is on trees (as our name implies!). We are experts in the field and we’ve been doing this for a long time.
Ultimately, you want to find a company that has your best interest at heart and that you can build a long-term relationship with. Your property requires ongoing care and it’d be great to partner with a company that you truly trust.
When you make a wise choice in tree care, you can gain valuable peace of mind that your flowering trees and shrubs, as well as the other trees on your property, are going to be properly cared for. This will help to preserve their long-term beauty, value, and enjoyment for many years to come.
Ready for safer and healthier trees at your Southern NH, Maine, or Northeastern Massachusetts home? Request your consultation and get a free quote for tree pruning services. We service properties in and around Stratham, NH, Kittery, ME, and Haverhill, MA. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
