Without trees and shrubs, a garden quickly becomes boring. However, trees and shrubs are often quite maintenance-intensive, at least they have to be cut regularly. When and how this is best done depends on the specific species, its growth and flowering behavior. Many trees are best pruned in the fall to prepare for winter.
A tree can be pruned in autumn
When is the best time to prune trees and shrubs
Spring, summer, autumn or winter: In principle, you can cut trees at any time of the year. However, this does not apply to all species. Autumn is the best time to trim native deciduous and coniferous trees. This applies in particular to species that have a strong tendency to bleed due to the summer sap pressure - these include maples, birches, poplars and some types of fruit - and can simply be treated more gently in autumn. Fruit trees can also be pruned in autumn, although you should remember that these trees will grow faster the earlier and more vigorously you cut. However, growth is not a priority in fruit trees, instead more fruit shoots should be formed. This in turn can be achieved by a winter cut, which should preferably be carried out in January or February.
Never cut in frost
Whether in autumn or winter: Under no circumstances should you cut when the temperature falls below minus five degrees Celsius. Then there is a risk that the branches and twigs will become brittle and simply snap off. This, in turn, makes new growth difficult in spring. Therefore, you only reach for the scissors or saw if the weather forecast predicts temperatures in the plus range for a few days. Incidentally, pruning should also not be carried out in wet or damp weather, as this promotes the development of fungal diseases.
What should be pruned in the fall
In autumn, these pruning measures are particularly useful:
- Thinning out a crown that is too dense
- Remove overly dense / cross-growing shoots
- Removal of diseased and loose branches to prevent storm damage
- Removal of dead wood
- thorough removal of saplings and wind shoots
Choose a mild, dry day between September and November, when the sun hides behind clouds whenever possible. Such a climate is ideal for tree pruning.
tips
Only use sharp / freshly sharpened and disinfected tools for cutting. Pathogens are often transferred from a diseased tree to a previously healthy one due to poor hygiene.