Fruit tree and Ornamental tree pruning and why its important to start now.

Utah's recent warm weather is confusing our fruit trees. Buds are beginning to swell and grow fuzz, what does this mean for your tree, and what you should do about it. 

 Fruit trees and structural prunes on ornamental trees should always be done in late Winter. Beating the growth season will help the cuts heal and the tree to produce where you want it to. 

When weather causes trees to bud sooner than normal, often times they get caught by a late frost which kills the newer shoots or kills the flower producing buds. This is why Bogaardts chooses to prune in Winter, as this helps to reduce the nutrient waste, the trees wounds heal better which in turn prevents disease and infection. 

The best way to say it so everyone can understand is by pruning now, you prevent bark separating from wood which helps cover the areas bugs like to lay eggs.  Why? During the Spring growth the wounds heal quicker due to the tree pushing nutrients to those areas. This means where we cut and prune it has a higher chance to grow closed instead or drying out and opening up. 

Why does that matter?

When it opens up or pulls away from the internal wood it creates dark damp places or places where water is easily able to seep down between the bark, giving the perfect area to incubate eggs.

The first thing others will tell you is to spray. 

The first thing Bogaardts tells you is to prune,  take away the dark areas give the tree less to worry about and allow its natural defenses to kick in.  Only then can you judge what preventative measures are needed.   In most cases proper pruning will keep the pest management to an acceptable levels.

Send Bogaardts Tree Services 2-3 pictures of your tree, attach your address, and we can give you an estimate and scheduling options with in 24hrs in most cases.

(some areas may take longer and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone)