While cleaning up fallen leaves this season, you may think it’s the perfect time for some fall tree pruning. Think again! Unless there are signs of disease, dead branches, or branches that could become a hazard, you shouldn’t prune anything in the fall.

Why Fall Tree Pruning is a Bad Idea

When you prune a tree, you encourage it to grow. Since trees should be getting ready to go dormant this time of year, pruning will only weaken the plant. Pruning also creates open cuts on the branches that may not heal in time. This leaves the tree vulnerable during the colder months. Let the tree focus on strengthening its roots in the fall and not healing pruning cuts.

What Can be Done in Fall

While pruning should wait until the tree or plant is dormant in the mid winter or spring, there’s still plenty to do in the fall. Rake and gather fallen leaves for use as mulch and compost. Leaving leaves in the grass can cause lawn disease. Either take them up or break them up with a mower.

Add mulch to your plants to act as a nutritious blanket during the cold season ahead. Use straw or shredded leaves as a winter covering.

Give plants a deep drink of water after it loses its leaves and before the ground freezes. Evergreens especially need water since they won’t shed their leaves.

Still not convinced pruning should wait till after fall? Contact the specialists at Elite Tree Care to learn more about what should and shouldn’t wait to be done this season. Your trees and plants will thank you.