When you’re thinking about tree removal, you may find yourself wondering ‘what time of year is best’? Well, in this short post we’ll talk about which season is optimal for removal and why.
With winter approaching, now is as good a time as any to be on the lookout for trees that are dead, decaying, diseased, or have any other signs of hazardous imperfections. Spotting and removing these types of trees is highly important in winter as heavy or unexpected snowfall can cause unhealthy, weak trees to fall or break, which can potentially lead to destruction of property, wildlife harm or disturbances, as well as injury to yourself and others.
The best time of year for removal is when trees have entered what’s called the ‘dormant’ stage, which typically occurs in winter or early spring. During the dormant stage, trees enter a type of hibernation; their metabolism slows and their growth stops to conserve energy. Through a multitude of cellular changes, including dehydration, sugar concentration and shrinkage, the cells harden and become almost glass-like to prevent freezing and cell damage. What also occurs during this stage is that most leaves fall and some smaller, fragile branches can snap off. This makes the tree more visible and easier to determine the stability of the structure and can help find the safest path to removal.
A few other reasons why late winter to early spring are prime months for tree removal are that, not only are trees in their dormant stage, but other organisms are too. Most insects and fungi also lay dormant during winter months which limits the chances of spreading diseases and pest infestations.
The health of trees and their surroundings is also a major component of tree removal. Like all living things, trees can also experience stress, however, during the winter months when trees lay dormant they experience less stress due to the cellular changes that take place, slowing down their systems and conserving energy. Although the ground is hard and frozen this actually reduces damages that may occur. Because all the vegetation is frozen it generally stays in the same place; compared to when the ground is warm, which makes it easy to manipulate. This not only causes disturbances, but it also distorts the physical appearance of your garden or field.
In short, the most beneficial time of year is late winter to early spring for tree removal. If you would like more information on what happens to trees in winter and how to prepare and protect them check out other updates on our page such as: “Managing trees in the fall”, “How trees get through the winter”, and “Snow load and tree damage”.
The professionals are here to help, and when in doubt, always reach out!