Is it okay to trim trees and bushes at the end of summer?

Question

I just bought my first home in the Seattle area. The yard needs work. I am very excited and don't want to wait. Am I okay to start cutting away with out hurting my plants?

Answer 1

Each one will be different. Many flowering bush's have already started their buds for next year. You will trim them off and have no blooms. Most trees will be okay.

Answer 2

With plants, it's better to do heavy pruning in the late fall or early winter. The cold causes the nutrients to flow from the stems and leaves to the root system, where they're protected from the cold by being underground. This is why deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter. It's also why leaves change color in the fall. The chlorophyl leaving the leaves and returning to the root system causes the color change until all of the nutrients are gone. The leaves then turn brown and fall off.

If you prune plants and trees too early, you're removing a lot of the nutrients from the plant before it can transfer to the root system. Without a store of nutrients in the roots, the plants will have a hard time coming back in the spring and may even die.

I would say to have a little patience and wait until October or November at the earliest to do any major trimming and pruning. December or January would actually be better.

Answer 3

your trees will heal better if you wait till all the leaves are off,in the fall ,also without all that cover you can better see and remove dead wood . concentrate on the lawn and do the brush this fall..............tom

Answer 4

Depends on the plant I would think you could cut anything you have to that is intrusive to you but wait till spring to really pretty it up. If you have something you just can't live with trim but have in mine not to trim the heck out of it. A little shaping wouldn't hurt to much but don't do any real serious cutting back.

Answer 5

Cut before you start getting too cold.

Answer 6

I live in your area also..........and yes you can get away with it...but take 5 min. and look up what they recommend ....just sit and read and take notes one night........and then you will know...........there's certain tricks for all of them......some you will slow.......some you will help.......good luck

Answer 7

Some shrubs are meant to be pruned after flowering, which means in the summer. Can you tell what shrubs you have?

Pruning trees now is not a good idea. Fine to cut the odd branch off if it is really in the way but otherwise trees should only be pruned when dormant.

You could always use this time to work out what plants you have and read up on them. Then you will be ready next year to prune, feed, resite etc. with all your new found knowledge