Plan for Tree Pruning Season

You may have heard that fall and winter are the best times to prune trees in Minnesota, but why is that? And why does pruning matter, anyway? Trees should be pruned for three main reasons: safety, health, and aesthetics.

• Safety always comes first. Branches should be removed if they are at risk of falling and causing injury or property damage, growing into utility lines, or interfering with visibility on streets or driveways. 
   

• Pruning for health encourages trees to develop a strong structure and reduces the probability of damage during severe weather events. It typically involves removing dead, diseased, or insect-infested wood and branches that are crossing and rubbing up against each other. 
   

• Pruning for aesthetics can enhance the natural beauty, form, and character of a tree and even the “curb appeal” of your property.
   

• Science tells us that trees’ dormant season, from late fall into winter, is the ideal time for pruning. Not only is the structure of the branches easier to see, but pruning at this time will also cause less stress for the tree. Wintertime tree maintenance helps to maximize wound closure, reduce the opportunity for disease to be spread by insects, and discourage excessive sap flow from wounds. 
   

• To learn more about pruning techniques or find resources to hire a certified arborist, visit mndnr.gov/treecare/caring-pruning.html.