You don’t have to be an expert botanist for you to have beautifully pruned trees and the way to get there is to prune the trees during the winter time right after its deciduous timeframe when the trees are dormant and free of foliage, and you can continue pruning until the first buds begin to sprout. Choose a sunny day and pull out the pruners.

Have a game plan set in advance on how you want your shrubs or trees to look like preventing low branches from getting bunched up and your shrubs that are meant to be tall from getting cut too short on the top. You want the plant’s natural features highlighted, and the original outline maintained, nicely.

Analyze the tree branches for any signs of branch rubbing that could potentially open up an entry way for various insects and diseases that can harm the tree. Remove the branches, immediately.

You also want to keep a close eye on any water sprouts or “suckers” that are found on the outside of the tree along with the base of the trunk. They grow fast and will use more energy from the trees than they give back.

Keep close attention to the angle of the branches for determining the branches strength. When you spot a low angle where the branch meets the trunk is weak and needs to be removed as they are more prone to winter damage such as ice and strong winds. You are looking for an ideal angle of 45° from the tree trunk.

How to Properly Remove Tree Limbs & Trimming Guide