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Tree trimming or tree pruning in Texas is generally best when done after temperatures cool off in the fall and before buds begin to grow in the spring. Removal of dead, broken, or damaged limbs can be done anytime. The worst time to trim a tree is in the spring just after it has budded out. The tree will already have used its energy to start new growth, and will not be able to recover from the trimming as well or as quickly. At Texas Tree Surgeons, tree trimming is the most common service we provide, and is essential to maintaining health and safety in our urban forest.

Why is it best to trim trees in the fall and winter?

Trimming trees at the right time is crucial to keeping them healthy. During the fall, the tree’s internal systems begin to slow, as it prepares to go dormant (similar to hibernation in animals). Entering a dormant state helps the tree survive the winter cold, frost, and ice. As the weather cools, the water in tree tissue begins to be converted to starch, which insulates cellular tissue against freezing damage. During this period of dormancy, trees are able to heal the wounds made from pruning before the stressors of spring, like disease and insects, arrive.

Proper trimming is not just a matter of timing, however, but also of technique. Trimming your trees at the proper time in the fall or winter cannot compensate for the damage done through over-trimming, lion-tailing, or topping. Even though a dormant tree can better withstand these damaging types of trimming, the overall health of the tree may be irreparably harmed.

Why is it important to use a company with certified arborists to trim your tree?

Every tree is different. Two trees of the same species planted next to each other may still react differently to their surroundings. Having an ISA Certified Arborist examine your trees before trimming is crucial to ensuring proper care. In a yard with different tree species, there may be a range of trimming needs. A certified arborist can assess each individual tree to make the best recommendations for trimming, taking into account species, environment, disease or pest activity, and the tree’s natural life cycle. Improper trimming at the wrong time of year can cause a tree’s health to decline substantially. A certified arborist’s knowledge of tree biology and trimming best practices leads to the best trimming recommendations for your trees.

Is there a best time to trim a particular species of tree?

While it is generally best for all trees to be trimmed in the fall and winter, it is important to be aware of issues particular to a given species.

Oaks:

• The best time to trim oak trees in Texas is in the fall and winter.
  • It is critical to avoid trimming during oak wilt season (February-July) if at all possible.
  • Live oaks typically do a leaf exchange in late winter so it is better to trim them in late fall or early winter.
• Dead and broken branches can be removed at any time.

Maples:

• The best time to trim maples is fall and winter.
  • Pruning in the early spring can lead to sap leaking from the pruning cuts.
  • Maple trees are one of the few trees that have fall color in Texas so pruning after the leaf drop is usually preferred.

Elms:

• Elms are hardy and native to Texas. They are typically the first to get their leaves and the first to lose their leaves.
  Trimming elms in the fall and in the winter is best to avoid sap leaking.
• Elms are prone to rotting where large pruning cuts are made or poor puts are made so conservative trimming is best.
• In the parts of North America where Dutch elm disease is present, elms should be trimmed before March.

Crape Myrtles:

• Crepe Myrtles produce flowers on each year’s new growth.
  • Trimming in the fall leads to more blossoms in the spring.
  • Trimming in the late spring will reduce the number of flowers the following year.
• For the health of the crape myrtle, the best time to trim is winter.
  • Topping crape myrtles is never a good practice.

Bradford Pears:

• Bradford pears can be safely trimmed at any time.
• Proper structural pruning when needed is very important for Bradford pears because their natural growth patterns often lead to weakness at branch joints.

Fruit Trees:

• Structural pruning for fruit trees should be done in the winter.
• Trimming for fruit production should be done just after bloom in early spring.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers. In the winter, it can be easy to forget about our trees, as their leaves are gone and we spend less time outside. However, remembering that winter is the best time to trim trees can lead to healthier, more beautiful trees in the summer. We are always happy to come out and assess your trees for their particular trimming needs. When tree trimming must be done out of season, we are able to make sure that best practices are followed to minimize any negative effects. One of our certified arborists can make personalized recommendations based on your trees. Get in touch today!

While North Texas is full of natural beauty, the changing color of leaves in the fall is not generally seen. More often than not, our trees are green for most of the year, and then drop their leaves quickly once real winter hits. However, there are a few common North Texas trees that do show some fall color, and there are also a few places close by in Texas that you can visit to get your fill of colorful fall leaves.

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

While we think of leaves as being green, in reality they contain pigments of many different colors, depending on the species. Yellow is one of the most common secondary pigments, along with orange. These colors are not usually seen, however, because the amount of green in the leaf, provided by chlorophyll, greatly eclipses the amount of other colors. The green-colored chlorophyll is an essential part of the plant’s ability to absorb sunlight and convert it into usable energy. During the spring and summer, leaves eagerly process the ample amounts of sunlight and help the plant to grow.

As the year winds down, however, and the weather turns cooler, the amount of daylight lessens. This drop in light and temperature triggers a change in the leaves. The vast stores of chlorophyll in the leaves are no longer needed, and begin to break down. The strong green color begins to fade and be replaced by the underlying pigmentation, such as yellow or orange. Related chemical reactions in the leaves can also produce other colors, like reds or purples. A mixture of several different pigments can appear as brown.

What determines a tree’s fall color?

The exact color of leaves in the fall depends on several factors:

• Species

  • This has the biggest impact on fall color.
  • Oaks usually appear brown.
  • Some maples show red, yellow, or orange.
  • Dogwoods and sumacs can exhibit purple leaves under some conditions.

• Light

  • Depending on your latitude, the change in amount of light from summer to fall can vary greatly.
  • A tree’s physical placement can also affect its reaction to the light changes.

• Temperature

  • Low (but not freezing) temperatures over an extended period of time can help with the generation of certain pigments, like reds.
  • Early frosts can stop pigment from developing further.

• Rainfall

  • Excessively wet weather can dull fall colors.
  • Hot and dry summers can deplete a tree’s resources, affecting fall color production.

Why don’t we see fall color in DFW?

Unfortunately, the trees common to North Texas, combined with the climate, do not make for vibrant fall color.

• Oaks, one of the most common trees in DFW, generally show brown fall coloring.
  • Live oaks, however, are usually green through winter and drop brown leaves in the spring.
  • Red oaks can show their namesake-colored leaves in the fall, if they don’t drop their leaves early.
• Elms and other trees common to our urban forest do show some yellowing in the fall.
• While maples are known for their bright fall colors, they are not very common in North Texas, and when they are planted, are usually smaller than the oaks, pecans, and elms around them.
• Our dry summers and wet autumns usually make for muted fall coloring, and we generally have sudden, drastic temperature changes rather than slower cooling.

Are there any North Texas trees that show vibrant color?

While there are few native trees that exhibit fall color, a few imported species can do well here and give a better chance of a dramatic change.

• Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is a common sight in our urban forest, and, under the right conditions, can turn an earthy red color in the fall.
  • Be sure to plant the pistache where there is good drainage, or it may develop health issues.
  • Arborist Tip: Chinese pistaches are more likely to show fall color when both male and female (berry-producing) trees are present.
• The tallowtree (Triadica sebifera) is less common than the Chinese pistache, but can produce a variety of fall colors.
  • Be careful, though, as the tallowtree is not cold-hardy.
• Maples do not always do well in our climate and soil here, but if you can get one to become established, you have a great chance to see fall color.
  • The Japanese maple is a well-loved ornamental tree that can showcase beautiful colors. One variety has coral-colored bark, for a spark of color even when the leaves have fallen!
  • The most common color is red, but some species can show yellow or purple.

Where can I go to see fall color in Texas?

Although we may not have an impressive fall showing in North Texas, there are several places in Texas that do.

• Tyler State Park, just a short trip from DFW, is full of maples, dogwoods, and sweetgums that can show a variety of fall coloring.
• Lake Bob Sandlin, in East Texas near Pittsburg, also is known for its fall foliage.
• Check out this article for more suggestions!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees (whether they turn colors in the fall or not), and we love our customers! We are always happy to talk about planting possibilities to introduce color to your yard. While we can’t guarantee leaf change in the fall, we do have several great options for spring color! As always, let us know if you have any questions, are looking for planting recommendations, or want to know how best to take care of your trees!