Best Winter Pruning Techniques for Common Landscape Trees

The best winter pruning techniques for common landscape trees focus on improving tree health, enhancing shape, and minimizing disease risks during the dormant season.

When to Prune

• The ideal window for winter pruning is typically from mid-November to mid-March in Michigan.

• Deciduous trees benefit from winter pruning in that their structure is easy to see without leaves.

• Evergreens generally should be pruned during the growing season, but light pruning of dead or damaged branches in winter is fine for most species.

Techniques for Effective Winter Pruning

• Always start by removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches first. This prevents the spread of issues and prepares the tree for healthy growth.

• Eliminate crossing or rubbing branches to prevent wounds that attract pests and diseases. Remove the smaller of the two to maintain a natural form.

• Thin the canopy by working from the center outward. This increases air circulation and exposes more of the tree to sunlight, helping prevent fungal diseases like those common in crabapples and hawthorns.

• Make clean cuts just outside the branch collar (the swollen area where branch meets trunk) and at a slight angle just above a bud facing outward. This encourages growth away from the tree center.

• Never remove more than one-quarter of a tree’s branches in a single season, as this can stress the tree and promote unwanted water sprout growth.

• For quick-growing shrubs (such as red twig dogwood or lilac), you can perform hard rejuvenation: remove up to half or even all canes to the ground every few years to encourage new, attractive growth.

Tools and Safety Tips

• Use sharp, clean bypass pruners or loppers appropriate for the branch size.

• Step back frequently to view your work so you will be sure to maintain the tree’s natural symmetry and balance.

• For large trees or major structural pruning, consider hiring a professional arborist for safety and expertise.

Pruning Specific Species

Tree Type                   Ideal Time        Special Notes

Oak                             Nov–Mar           Prune only during dormancy to avoid oak wilt disease

Elm                              Winter                Avoid Dutch elm disease, prune when beetles inactive

Fruit trees                    Late winter        Delays growth, maximizes fruit production

Crabapple/Hawthorn   Winter                Increase air circulation, reduce fungal disease risk

Evergreens                  Late winter        Lightly prune dead/damaged wood; Do heavy cuts in spring

Winter pruning clears away problems before growth resumes in the spring and sets up your trees for a healthy start when the weather starts to warm up.