Trim in the winter??

[capetrees]

I am not an arborist and have never claimed to be. I take down trees, mostly trouble trees and care for some trees based on basic knowledge. So ....

I went by a property today where I plow the driveway. I also in the past have taken down some trees for the owner and have trimmed away some branches. He lives in Utah but owns a summer home here. His gardener decided to day or yesterday to trim up a number of trees in the yard, most notably the Jacquemontii Birch trees, the owners focal point in the front yard. She decided to trim up the first 15' of branches of 25'-30' trees. Unless the branches are obstructions, I usually recommend not to trim birch trees in that they tend to then grow or re-grow abnormally after.

Question I have is it ok to trim them so severely and is it ok to trim them here in the dead of winter? Personally, I don't think they look good now and the lower branches tend not to re-grow.

Any input would be great.

 

[ducaticorse]

I am not an arborist and have never claimed to be. I take down trees, mostly trouble trees and care for some trees based on basic knowledge. So ....

I went by a property today where I plow the driveway. I also in the past have taken down some trees for the owner and have trimmed away some branches. He lives in Utah but owns a summer home here. His gardener decided to day or yesterday to trim up a number of trees in the yard, most notably the Jacquemontii Birch trees, the owners focal point in the front yard. She decided to trim up the first 15' of branches of 25'-30' trees. Unless the branches are obstructions, I usually recommend not to trim birch trees in that they tend to then grow or re-grow abnormally after.

Question I have is it ok to trim them so severely and is it ok to trim them here in the dead of winter? Personally, I don't think they look good now and the lower branches tend not to re-grow.

Any input would be great.

You got to trim birch trees. People plant those things as ornanmentals constantly. You don't want to trim them too high to offset the balance, but you've got to keep the canopy in check as not to provide pest access to houses/ drown out plantings underneath. These trees can get huge and out of control. Pruning in the late fall is ok...

 

[capetrees]

Thanks.

I looked it up and found that trimming can occur in the winter without problems. I guess what amazed me was the look of them. The branches were clear of the house and they were typical birches, whispy and airy and seemingly healthy. I just hope this gardener didn't read "a book" and assume she's an arborist suddenly.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

The only real problem with trimming any birch in winter or spring is that they will sap-out in spring and cause staining of the bark.

Second is that with large limb removal you will tend to get more decay then with "true hardwoods".

Third is that when you remove raise a round formed tree 50% you can be removing 60-70% of the canopy, just from the geometry of the form.

I often find that people who have had a little training in "pruning" tend to make textbook cuts while ignoring the totality of the tree. With gardeners, it is often true that they are more concerned with how the design looks then with the long term health of a a tree. Sometimes I have heard them say that they are working with it until they can get it replaced; perhaps a self-fulfilling prophesy, if I can take a metaphorical liberty.

 

[alpineman]

Winter trimming is great!

Our company works very hard to educate our clients as to why they should trim their trees in the winter. The colder months are great, especially in areas where airborne disease and pest problems are high. I find that when you begin to explain this in detail to people, their trust of you goes through the roof. Especially if you can offer a winter discount to them if they follow your recommendations. Once you begin to trim alot in the winter, you realized how much easier it is to trim the tree when the leaves are not blocking your view of the branch structure.

 

[jduvall]

If a white birch shows any signs of borer we prefer to trim them in the winter.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Our company works very hard to educate our clients as to why they should trim their trees in the winter. The colder months are great, especially in areas where airborne disease and pest problems are high. I find that when you begin to explain this in detail to people, their trust of you goes through the roof.

Knowing the pathogen is better then general statements, there have been a few studies that show winter pruning may make trees more susceptible to infection from spring/early summer fungi that cast spores then.

Off hand I recall a Minnesota study of mortality in red oak, the winter pruned trees had a statistically significant higher rate of mortality from OW then those trimmed in late summer. FWIW, I know, I'm nit-picking...

 

[TreeAce]

Knowing the pathogen is better then general statements, there have been a few studies that show winter pruning may make trees more susceptible to infection from spring/early summer fungi that cast spores then.

Off hand I recall a Minnesota study of mortality in red oak, the winter pruned trees had a statistically significant higher rate of mortality from OW then those trimmed in late summer. FWIW, I know, I'm nit-picking...

So I am making a mistake in recommending to people to trim there red oak family trees in winter because of oak wilt?? I am in northern Ohio. OW is def around. There is a golf course near me that two years ago was ravaged by OW. I guess it still is , I havent been there in awhile...to busy to golf. There are alot of beatiful oaks in my area and I would be sick if I had any thing to to with the spread of OW. I have always just avoided trimming them in spring and always cleaned tools with denatured alcohol.(?)

 

[M.D. Vaden]

The only real problem with trimming any birch in winter or spring is that they will sap-out in spring and cause staining of the bark.

Haven't noticed any staining here from winter pruning of birch that I've done. If it occurred, it must have been inconspicuous. Seen some dripping, but it generally stops in a couple of weeks.

"Winter" can be vague. Because the the first and last days of Winter are a day away from Spring and Autumn.