After Pruning what should be done

THREE IMPORTANT STEPS AFTER PRUNING:
 
DORMANT OIL - It's been proven by universities that the black "wound tar" over a new cut does NOT help or benefit the healing of the tree. However a Dormant Oil application after pruning will help in several ways. First it will create a film the discourages pest from trying to "stick" their eggs on that healing wound. Second it will suffocate existing eggs and insects overwintering on the tree. Third is is inexpensive and organic (cost anywhere from $5 to $16 a tree depending on size).

DEEP ROOT FERTILIZER - Pruning has taken away some of the photosynthesis provided last year so a fertilizer with Save-A-Tree (Thrive), combined with a true Tree Fertilizer with the minors included promotes the health and again is half the price of buying the products and doing it yourself.

SYSTEMIC DRENCH - Bayer Tree and Shrub is imidicloprid which is a pesticide that goes INSIDE the tree so insects and bores chewing into the tree are stopped. A twenty foot tree will cost around $13 and the last time I checked the retail bottle cost $19.94. Either way it is an excellent way to stop bores and aphid problems.

Link to best practice after pruning
Arborist Link on True Tree Facts

Pruning Trees in the Winter

I'm often asked why I am so emphatic about pruning trees in the winter - here is the short list :)

• Limbs are autonomous, the trunk only recognizes the limb when it is supplying sugars, if we take the limb when the tree is dormant, the tree will revert energy into the existing limbs better in the spring so we have far less stress on dormant trees.
• It is easier to view the overall canopy and make decisions on dominant leader corrective pruning
• There are no insects to take advantage of fresh wounds and open cuts.
• Flowers, shrubs and other plants are less likely to be damaged from falling limbs, ladders etc because they are dormant too.
• If we prune too soon in the Fall and we get a warm spell, the fresh cuts will stimulate new growth where we've pruned - then we get a cold snap and the new growth is damaged for next year. So the later the better especially on younger trees; November on is usually pretty safe.

So why don't commercial companies prune in the winter?...well, it's flipping cold out there and most workers don't want to work in those conditions - but  it's best for the trees and that makes it worth it to me.

Good link to why we prune in winter

Link to University info on why we prune in winter
DO NOT PRUNE IN THE FALL BEFORE TREES ARE DORMANT

Now is the time for your trees...

Now is the time for Deep Root Fertilizer

Your trees are storing nutrients into thier root system right now -

Deciduas trees (with Leaves) will store sugars to use next spring.

Conifers (think with Cones) will continue to transpire and move moisture throughout the winter - they need energy for that and a big drink.



This is not expensive ($5 to $8 depending on size of tree) but very important. We use the trademark Save-A-Tree combined with a tree fertilizer and iron for a complete balance.