Trimming trees in summer???

[LVSteve]

My HOA has turned loose the tree trimmers this last couple of weeks. However, I cannot get my head around trimming trees at any time other than autumn. I was told you never trim in spring or summer with the sap rising and the birds nesting. Any thoughts from the arboreal minded on here?

Oh, and it's been 111/112°F this week, too.

 

[boatme99]

Depends on the tree. Some species are best trimmed in spring/ some in the fall.
Commercial outfits trim when they have the manpower and time. They don't care.
Me, I mostly trimmed when the saw was sharp.

 

[arjay]

Ive always done it in March,except when I didn't. [emoji57]Havent killed any yet [emoji41]

 

[hangnoose]

TRIMMING

IMO, it's easier on you and the tree/bushes when done in cooler weather, just not when they are in bloom. Here in Fl I always say "I'm not doing ANY yard work from mid May-mid October" It never seems to work out that way, and I end up outside from O-dark thirty to 10 am at the latest. It has been absolutely brutal here the last week.

 

[mojave30cal]

I live in the northwest part of Las Vegas in Centennial Hills. I
was also in the Master Gardener program in LV for 8 years. I
have 3 fruit trees, which I prune around Jan/Feb. I also have
numerous desert adapted shrubs around my front and back
yard which I prune around February, then fertilize.

It is not recommended to prune in the fall as pruning will
encourage new growth, which will be killed when the first frost
hits around Thanksgiving.

Of course, you can prune anytime to remove dead, damaged or
diseased branches; and branches that are crisscrossing each
other. Regarding the fruit trees, it's easier to prune when the
leaves are gone so you can see what needs to be pruned.

When it comes to desert trees, a lot of people water them a
lot during the summer months, which encourages faster growth
and necessitates more frequent pruning. I have a Blue Palo
Verde which has been in my front yard for 10+ years. It's about
20 feet tall, and I don't have to water it as it has sent down a
deep tap root and has a moisture source. I have an arborist
prune it every couple of years, and it gives me lots of nice
shade in the summer months.

Hopes this helps.

 

[Robotech]

It's been my experience that the majority of landscape/tree services either know almost nothing about proper tree trimming, or don't care enough to wait for the correct timing/weather/season, either due to labor availability or trying to maximize short-term profits. They're even worse about any required spraying. Most don't have a certified arborist on staff. (My wife IS a certified arborist, among other certifications landscape and spray/chemical related, and I constantly get told the horror stories of what she finds being done. )

Some trees are very sensitive about when they are pruned and by how much for various reasons. Around here, you absolutely do not want to prune oaks until after freezing weather hits or you have a high risk of infection unless you seal every cut. Storm damage is something else, and needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.

But one of the biggest problems (And rip-offs.) are the companies that insist on planting trees or anything else and leaving the root-ball wrappings or cages in place. No, burlap and other natural fiber wraps WILL NOT rot off in most soils, at least not in time to let the roots expand into the soil as necessary for a good transplanting. But the tree, bush, or whatever, is likely to survive long enough to get beyond the warrantee period. This means more potential work and sales for the landscape services and suppliers. Most times the landscapers/tree-trimmers seem to get away with poor and damaging practices because the home/property owners don't know any better, and the damage isn't really seen for months or years.

 

[LVSteve]

Many thanks, guys. When I said autumn I was thinking UK style where the day length and temperature have shut down the trees by late October. You would think I'd know better after so long in Vegas.

 

[venomballistics]

Had this discussion with the wife after she killed off a few trees she thought she would prune to ocd perfection.

BUGS, BUGS, BUGS.
When you prune, you make the tree vulnerable to bugs, which, in turn, kill it.
A hard frost drives them into dormancy where they are not in the picture to finish the trees you intend to violate.

 

[CoronaGold111]

Spruce, pine, fir in summer I believe. Sap is low...

 

[Jack Flash]

... I cannot get my head around trimming trees at any time other than autumn. I was told you never trim in spring or summer with the sap rising and the birds nesting. Any thoughts from the arboreal minded on here?

Oh, and it's been 111/112°F this week, too.

I hate to cut trees at all when birds are nesting. I agree with the gentleman who said wait till after the first hard frost. I would add, and after the birds have gone south.