Brisbane has year-round hot and humid weather with eight or slightly more weeks of mild cold in the winter months of June through August. This subtropical weather gives you a wider window to safely trim or prune your trees. Read on to find out the best time to prune or trim your trees in Brissie and some extra professional tips to help you get the best results.
It’s best to trim trees in Brisbane in late winter or early spring. This is usually between the last one or two weeks of August and early September. Tree experts recommend this time because it’s easier to trim, you’ll have better results and your trees will be able to recover after trimming.
Late August or early September is the trimming season for Brisbane tree owners and trimming companies. There are several reasons why you should schedule your tree trimming or make plans for your trees to be trimmed around this time if you have a property in Brisbane. Here are the top ones:
Easier Trimming
You’ll have an easier time clearing unwanted branches and foliage in late winter or early spring before the growth season. Most trees in Brisbane start developing foliage at this time but have less of it in the early stages or toward the end of winter. This is the best time to remove unwanted branches as you will have better access to the crown.
Allows the Tree to Recover
You wouldn’t want to remove healthy branches from a tree if it won’t be able to grow new healthy branches. Keep in mind the trimming process can hurt an otherwise healthy tree if it is done at the wrong time (like early winter when it’s in dormancy). Make sure you give your tree sufficient time to recover when conditions are perfect for new growth to maintain its health.
Time the Rapid growth phase for Crown Shaping
Are you trimming ornamental trees to shape the crown? If so, then the best time to get the desired results is just before the tree goes into the new growth phase. Again, this is just before spring in Brisbane for most trees. You’ll be able to see the results as the trees develop fresh foliage and take the desired shapes over spring and fall.
Trim Before Flowering and Fruiting Season
Another reason to trim at this time is to control how a tree flowers, especially if you want to control its fruit production for one reason or the other. For instance, you could trim off some branches to maintain a healthy crown density when the tree produces fruit after flowering (for flowering trees). Trimming is a yearly activity that most fruit tree farmers do to get the best yield.
High Season for Tree Trimming Services in Brisbane
You’ll have an easier time finding an expert tree trimmer or tree maintenance and probably save costs during trimming season or trimming period. The trimming season in Queensland is usually between August and September.
Note: Not all trees can be trimmed during trimming season. Some trees or shrubs need to be trimmed with regular pruning or trimming throughout the year or when they go into dormancy in winter. We advise that you get more information about the trees in your farm or yard or consult an expert near you before trimming.
Expert Tip: Finding a reliable tree trimming service near you can be a daunting task with the number of tree companies advertising their service in Brisbane. To help you, GotreeQuotes has a free tool you can use to find and call top-rated tree services in your location. To use it, just enter your current ZIP code at the top of this page and answer a few questions about the job you want to be done. Get your free quote today.
When is complete tree removal required?
Sometimes a tree’s decline can not be stopped and it begins to be a safety hazard, this is when tree removal services in Brisbane are required.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell until it’s deader than a doornail, but some early signs are crown dieback, peeling bark, and overflowing.
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Is It Better to Trim Trees in The Autumn or Spring?
It’s better to trim your trees just before spring to take advantage of the new growing season. Most trees are entering dormancy towards the end of fall and early winter so trimming them at this time will have a permanent effect on the crown structure (especially deciduous trees). The trimmed sections may not be able to recover well in fall or winter.
That said, there are trees or shrubs that you can trim in Autumn especially if you are interested in shaping the crown or permanently reducing the crown density for or aesthetic purposes. We advise that you have an arborist inspect your trees or shrubs and advice you before you do any off-season trimming.
When Should You Not Trim Trees?
It’s not advisable to do any trimming or pruning in summer or winter unless you are forced to do so for safety reasons. Trimming during the summer or winter will give the trees little chance of growing new branches or limbs from the affected sections as there are little nutrients or water or soil to use. It might also expose the tree to pests.
When Should I Trim a Tree for Safety?
Safety tree trimming can be done at any time although you should consult a professional if the limb or branch involved is large enough that removing them will compromise the tree. If you have a dangerous overhanging branch, dead branches, branches touching power lines, branches destroyed in a storm or other means, trim them at the earliest opportunity for your safety and other people.
How Do You Know If a Tree Needs Trimming?
There are several indicators that tree experts and arborists use to determine if a tree needs trimming and to what extent it should be trimmed. Some of them require scientific measurements like if crown spread or the crown density is a factor.
At the same time, trimming or tree pruning can be dependent on your needs or preferences especially if you are interested in shaping the crown of the tree for aesthetics.
- In general, you will know if a tree needs trimming if?
- It has an unbalanced dense crown that might affect the trunk
- If the crown is affecting the stability or integrity of the crown or trunk
- If the tree has unwanted overhanging branches (branches hanging over your roof, power lines, pavement, or garage) or dead branches.
- If a tree has storm destroyed, broken, dead or dangerous branches
- If the tree crown is covering other plants in your garden
- If the shape of the crown does not fit your aesthetic preferences (for curb appeal)
- If the tree sheds too many leaves and is a nuisance
- When you want to improve or control fruit yield per tree, etc.
How much can you trim a tree without killing it?
This depends on the type of tree being trimmed and its size, but should generally not remove over two-thirds of a tree’s crown in the trimming process otherwise you might destroy it. Some trees and shrubs will grow back most of the trimmed branches in a few years or even months.
That said, we strongly advise that you do some research or call an arborist before removal of any major branches during trimming or tree pruning. Please use our free professional locating tool at the top of this page if you need help finding a local arborist. They’ll send you a free quote and some friendly tips to your email.
Do I Need a Permit to Trim a Tree in Brisbane?
Tree protection laws vary from council to council in Australia but there is a chance that you may need some sort of permit or letter to trim trees on your property. Local council tree protection laws contain instructions on when you need a permit and how to obtain it so be sure to check them. A licensed local professional can also help you with permit applications.
Author: Ben McInerney is a qualified arborist with over 15 years of industry experience. He uses his in-depth knowledge of the tree service industry to give readers to most accurate information on tree service costs and helps to educate them about the benefits of using a certified arborist for tree trimming and removal work.
