NORWICH – Bulbs are coming up and our gardens are thawing. The twigs of many plants are becoming brighter in color and their buds are swelling in anticipation of warmer weather. Now is a great time to tackle some spring tree care.

Ensure your tree can grow freely. If it is staked, check to see if that staking is still needed. Trees need to blow in the wind a little to build up wood, so they should be able to sway. Remove or loosen straps. Also, readjust any trunk protectors so they are not too tight. If you strung twinkly lights on your tree for the winter season, remove or readjust them so they don’t cut into the trunk as it grows.

Check for any dead or decaying limbs. Damaged branches can still be seen easily before the leaves grow. Small branches can be pruned with a handsaw from the ground. A proper limb removal cut leaves the swollen area at the base of the branch, called the branch collar. The wound will be smallest if pruned there and the branch will seal over faster versus being cut flush against the trunk. Don’t be tempted to climb a ladder to prune limbs. Many homeowners injure themselves pruning trees when their ladders fall out from underneath. Call a professional arborist.

On young trees, prune to improve structure. Remove competing leaders, rubbing branches, and limbs that will interfere with sight lines or maintenance. Also, select for branches that come off at wide angles from the trunk. They are better attached than those with narrow attachment angles and will last longer. Don’t immediately limb up small trees. Keeping low and interior branches will encourage proper trunk and limb growth and the leaves they support will help the tree thrive. Wait until the tree is well-established before removing those low branches.

– J. Rebecca Hargrave, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at SUNY Morrisville and member of the City of Norwich Tree Committee