Tried pruning a 30-year-old maple in August instead of winter...

I know everyone says prune in late winter when trees are dormant. But I had a client in Toledo who needed a big silver maple cleaned up before a wedding they were hosting last September. I figured I'd try it in August after the growth had slowed down. The wounds sealed up way faster than my winter cuts usually do. The tree didn't show any stress and the new growth this spring was actually better balanced. Has anyone else had luck breaking the 'dormant only' rule for certain species?

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victor2201mo ago

Glad to hear someone else tried this. I did the same thing with an old oak in my backyard last August because a big limb was hanging over the patio and I couldn't wait. The wound closed up so fast I was shocked. My winter cuts always seem to sit there oozing sap for months before they seal. The tree didn't miss a beat and the new growth this spring was way more even. Have you noticed the cuts heal cleaner with less dieback around the edges?

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