Trees and shrubs are a valuable asset on your commercial property, offering numerous benefits when properly cared for and maintained. Placed correctly and maintained well, trees and shrubs can lower energy bills, manage stormwater by reducing erosion and flooding, sequester carbon, and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Trees and shrubs also add significant curb appeal, enhancing the aesthetic value of your property.
But the key to maintaining their long-term health boils down to proper care. One of the most vital tasks that you can perform for your trees is proper pruning.
Here in the Greater Chicago area, dormant pruning offers benefits. Our long winters provide plenty of time to ensure this valuable task is completed in a timeline that will maximize your benefits.
In this article, we’ll explain more about what dormant pruning is and why it’s something to consider for your property.
Dormant pruning involves pruning trees during the dormant season. Trees enter a state of dormancy in the Greater Chicago area in the late fall or early winter (triggered by shorter days and dropping temperatures).
Dormancy is a way for trees to conserve energy, store nutrients, and protect themselves from harsh conditions. It’s a natural protective mechanism.
There are several reasons why this period can be an optimal time for pruning.
Finally, it’s important to note that winter pruning still provides all the regular benefits of pruning. It’s healthy for your tree to be pruned. Removing dead, dying, or diseased branches can help make your tree more nutritious overall.
Pruning also has long-term aesthetic benefits and helps keep your tree in optimal health. This helps maintain long-term value.
Yes, plants can be pruned in the winter. In fact, dormant pruning is essential here in Illinois because it protects plant health and promotes strong growth in the spring.
Pruning in the winter reduces the stress on plants, lowers the risk of disease and pests, and makes it easier to see structural issues without the leaves.
Winter pruning also prevents winter storm damage by removing weak or dead branches and improves airflow and sunlight for healthier growth.
Overall, dormant pruning creates stronger, safer, and more resilient trees and shrubs as we head into the growing season.
In the Greater Chicago area, Oak trees should ideally be pruned only in winter to prevent Oak Wilt. This is because the insects that carry this disease are inactive in winter.
While Oak is an example of a tree that is ideally pruned only during winter, many deciduous trees benefit from dormant pruning when they do not have their leaves.
There are also some plants that should not be pruned in the winter.
For example, early-spring bloomers should not be pruned in winter, as these plants produce flowers on older branches, which would be pruned away during winter pruning.
Paying attention to a proper pruning timeline is key. A landscape professional will be well-versed in what your property needs.
No, dormant pruning will not damage plants…when performed properly. Of course, pruning mistakes at any time of the year do have the potential to harm your trees and shrubs.
Overpruning is probably the most common mistake that we see.
Pruning too much of a tree or shrub can create openings for diseases, pests, and other health problems, and may also leave the tree aesthetically damaged. There is both an art and a science to pruning, and cuts need to be made strategically.
Of course, as we mentioned, you do want to avoid pruning early spring blooming plants in the winter to prevent negatively impacting their bloom times.
A professional tree care provider will understand proper pruning timelines to ensure that your trees and shrubs get the maximum benefits without any harm. Dormant tree and shrub pruning can be highly beneficial to many species.
Having a professional commercial provider on your side will be critical when it comes to maximizing the benefits of tree pruning. Regular assessments of the trees on your commercial property can also help identify trees that require pruning or have other issues that need to be addressed.
Be sure to look for a commercial landscape provider that has your best interest at heart. While there are plenty of companies offering landscape maintenance services, you want a company that is ready to form a partnership with you.
At KD Landscape, we maintain a constant eye on your property during our routine visits. This will give you peace of mind that issues will be identified and swiftly addressed.
There are multiple layers of professional oversight involved. This includes the crews’ and operation managers doing their weekly visits, as well as an account manager performing quarterly site visits. With a combination of team members keeping an eye on your trees, problems can be caught and treated early.
Having trees on your commercial property can feel like a lot of work. But with wise choices and a pro leading the way, you can protect the value of these beautiful assets.
At the end of the day, proper tree pruning can be transformative and incredibly beneficial for your commercial facility. But it’s just one of many services that your property requires. You need to partner with a professional who can offer everything that your commercial property needs.
We understand that you have numerous concerns when managing your commercial property.
If you have questions about dormant pruning or would like our assistance with your property, please let KD Landscape know. We can help answer all of your questions, saving you time, money, and headaches along the way.
Want to learn more about KD Landscape’s commercial landscape maintenance in Chicagoland? Get started today with an on-site consultation. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.