5 Benefits to Pruning in the Winter

Pruning is often viewed as a spring or summer task, when plants are green and growing their fastest. However, there are a lot of benefits to pruning in the middle of winter when your plants and trees are not blooming. Taking the time to prune when the temperature is low can help your plants reach their fullest potential come spring and summer. 

Here are the top five benefits to pruning your indoor and outdoor plants in the middle of winter:

1. Your Plants Are Dormant

After your trees shed their leaves in the fall, they enter into a dormant stage where their metabolic activity ceases for the winter season. Because of this, your plants feel less when you prune them and they are able to heal the pruned cuts faster due to their inactive metabolism. It is also incredibly helpful to your plants as they are somewhat numb from the dormant stage, so pruning is less of an invasive chore when the plant is awake and active. 

2. Safer if it Snows or Sleets

Pruning low hanging branches before large winter storms is a great way to prepare your yard for winter. If snow or ice builds up on those lower branches, they are more prone to breaking, which can be very damaging to your property and the plant. Clean breaks are a lot easier to heal for the tree or shrub, so prune those branches before winter storms make their appearance. 

3. Easier to Prune

When the shrub or tree isn’t in full bloom stage, it’s a lot easier to see what needs to be pruned and where. Taking advantage of the lack of bloom can make the pruning job easier to manage. To add to the ease of pruning, make sure you’re using strong pruning blades to ensure your cuts are clean and easy for your plant to heal and start its regrowth. If your trees need pruning higher than you can reach, consider investing in a lopper which is the longest gardening tool for pruning. 

4. No Insects or Disease

Another big benefit to pruning in the winter is that insects and many diseases are also dormant. When you prune in the warmer months, those “wounds” on the tree or shrub are more susceptible to insect invasions. But in the winter, those odds are a lot less likely, leaving your plant to heal their pruned spots easier. 

5. Pruning Encourages Growth

Pruning, in general, is excellent to promote healthy growth and longevity of your trees and shrubs. Pruning in the winter provides your plant with optimized starting points for spring sprouting. This will help your plant grow to its full potential and size once the weather turns warm. 

Pruning is a critical part of yard maintenance, but not just in the warmer months. Taking the time to prune year round has a lot of benefits to your home and plants. Visit us at Taylor’s Do it Center today if you have any questions regarding when and how to prune your indoor and outdoor plants. Our professionals would love to help!