The Best Time to Trim Your Trees, According to Experts

A properly trimmed tree can enhance the beauty of your surroundings, encourage growth (or eliminate overgrowth), and keep your property safe. But with hundreds of distinct species in the United States, each with its own characteristics and care instructions, it can be difficult to know where to start. So when is the best time to trim your tree?

The answer, often, is in winter or early spring, but best practices may vary depending on the type of tree, as well as where you live. Here, we spoke to tree experts and got answers on when you should trim specific types of trees—from apple to pine and everything in between.

Meet the Expert

• Eric North, certified arborist and program manager of urban forestry for The Arbor Day Foundation

• Joe Moussa, owner of Mosaic Home & Garden Center and

Related: 6 Flowering Trees That Will Become the Centerpiece of Your Yard

Deciduous Trees

The best time to trim deciduous trees is typically in the winter months. "Trees are still dormant," says Joe Moussa, owner of Mosaic Home and Garden Center. "They'll heal from the prune quickly as they begin to wake in spring." Moussa notes that he typically trims deciduous types in February or March in his home state of Pennsylvania.

Why trim during dormancy? It reduces the stress on a tree because they're alive during this time but not actively growing. It can also lead to healthier growth when warmer temperatures return. Moussa notes that sap flow amidst dormancy is also considerably slower, making for an easier and cleaner cut.

Disease is another important reason why many will want to wait until winter to trim their deciduous trees. In North's home state of Minnesota, trees are vulnerable to a disease known as “oak wilt,” which is generally active from April to November. “We really try not to prune oak trees during that period," he says. "We don’t want to attract the beetles that transmit the disease.”

That’s not to suggest you can’t do some light maintenance year-round, of course. Some trees, like maples, can be safely trimmed anytime, according to North.

Fruit Trees

Many fruit trees fall under the deciduous umbrella and share a similar ideal pruning time: Late winter to early spring, before buds start to form and swell. “For something like an apple tree, you’d wait until it’s a drier season, or sometimes even into the dormant season,” says North. It's best to avoid trimming right away in the spring, though, particularly in damp weather: “Fungal and viral diseases can spread more readily when it’s really wet.” 

Similar to the broader deciduous category, your trimming window for fruit trees isn’t limited to a few cool months. “Fruit trees can handle summer pruning if you’re trying to control growth or overgrowth,” says Moussa. That being said, he warns that you should try and avoid heavy trimming after mid-summer, as any new growth won’t have time to heal, or harden, before winter.

Related: 15 Fast-Growing Fruit Trees That Will Yield a Delicious Harvest in No Time

Evergreens and Conifers

Evergreens can be a complicated species when it comes to trimming. Late winter and early spring is the best time, and you should avoid doing so in the fall, as it can leave them vulnerable to cold and hinder their future growth.

Correctly identifying an evergreen is the hard part. North used to teach a class on the subject, and points out that many people may see a green, needle-laden tree and assume that it's a pine—but that's not the case. "There are pine, spruces, and furs, and they all grow in a slightly different way," he says.  That’s yet another reason to do your homework before making your first cut.

Some evergreens, like yews, boxwoods, and hollies, can handle more frequent pruning and trimming, according to Moussa. But spruces and other pines don't typically tolerate it. "Evergreens don't regenerate growth from old wood," he says. "So don't cut too deep into the bare wood unless it's necessary."

Similarly, a cone-shaped tree, like a pine, has fewer needles up top. “If you prune those bottom branches all the way up, then you’re leaving very little for the tree to photosynthesize and support itself," says North.

Final Thoughts

Most importantly, if you have a big job that requires a ladder or some more substantial equipment, then call a certified arborist who can complete the job safely. If it's something smaller and more manageable, then make sure you have a meticulous plan to avoid any unwanted outcomes. "You wouldn’t get a haircut without having a general idea of what you wanted," says North. "You shouldn’t start trimming your tree without the same forethought."