Timing for Tree trimming - Ask Extension
Good morning,
I need to have some evergreens and apple trees trimmed. With this warm weather, is it OK to have that done now? I thought that spring...
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Timing for Tree trimming #924732
Asked February 18, 2026, 10:01 AM EST
Good morning,
I need to have some evergreens and apple trees trimmed. With this warm weather, is it OK to have that done now? I thought that spring was a bad time to trim…and this is very much like spring weather.
Thank you
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
Spring, prior to budbreak, is the ideal time to prune most woody plants, including apples. We typically recommend pruning in February and early March. Following pruning, be sure to water well to help the trees avoid stress.
While apples can be pruned every year, pruning evergreens may not be necessary, unless you're removing dead branches. Any dead or diseased branches can be removed at any time.
Make good pruning cuts, no more than 1" to 1.5" in diameter and use the three-cut pruning technique to avoid tearing the bark. Here's a good publication that explains the process: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pruning-Cuts.pdf
Spring, prior to budbreak, is the ideal time to prune most woody plants, including apples. We typically recommend pruning in February and early March. Following pruning, be sure to water well to help the trees avoid stress.
While apples can be pruned every year, pruning evergreens may not be necessary, unless you're removing dead branches. Any dead or diseased branches can be removed at any time.
Make good pruning cuts, no more than 1" to 1.5" in diameter and use the three-cut pruning technique to avoid tearing the bark. Here's a good publication that explains the process: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Pruning-Cuts.pdf
Thank you, Allison for the information. The evergreen just needs cutting back as it’s too close to our house. Yes, we will water everything well. It’s been so dry these last few years.
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Thank you for your prompt reply.
Kathleen
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On Feb 18, 2026, at 11:39 AM, Ask Extension wrote:
