What Tree Pruning Should You Do At The End Of Summer?
With September almost here, a long, hot summer is nearing its end. That means now is the right time of year to have pruning work done on some types of trees as the growing season ends.
Our tree cutting service is currently busy with work on certain tree species that need attention as summer ends, with a couple of prime examples being pruning bay trees and deadwooding sycamores, which we recently completed for some happy clients.
A bay tree may seem a strange plant to prune at this time of year, because it is an evergreen. But there are some very good reasons to trim this species now:
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If you are growing it as a topiary, summer pruning can ensure density and a balanced shape.
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If you grow it as a shrub, light pruning in spring or summer can help to shape it.
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Semi-ripe cuttings taken late in summer can be used for propagating new bay trees.
Why Is Now A Good Time For Deadwooding Sycamores And Other Deciduous Trees?
Sycamore trees are different as they shed their leaves in autumn, but the main reason for deadwooding them is that the branch is either dead or dying and needs to be removed to maintain the healthy growth of the tree.
Signs to look for that deadwooding is required include:
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Branches look brittle
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Bark is absent or flaking
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The wood below the bark looks brown, black or grey instead of white or cream.
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It will not have grown any leaves during the spring or summer (this is why now is a good time to identify the issue).
Carrying out deadwooding is not just a matter of making a tree look better. It removes a key entry point for fungus or pests.
Moreover, there is the practical matter that insurance companies will look favourably on those who maintain trees this way if any incidents (such as falling branches) do occur later.
With autumn likely to be stormy, dead branches might easily fall. But by removing them now, you can prevent such incidents and help to ensure your deciduous tree stays healthy.