A Guide to Pine Tree Trimming

What's the best time to prune a pine and what are the proper practices? Let's find out

Pine trees are great because they grow year-round, they're sturdy building materials and they're pleasant to have around your property. 

And managing them should be easy. Pruning pines should be an infrequent but simple experience that you can fit into your seasonal property maintenance.

Let's go over the basics of how to prune a pine.

How fast do pine trees grow?

While it depends on the species of pine tree, pines can grow a one to two feet every year with the right conditions, like proper moisture, nutrient rich soil and the right temperature.

Under the best conditions, or with some larger species, they can grow up to three feet per year.

Why do I need to prune my pine trees?

The most common reasons for trimming pine trees are if the branches are coming close to a utility line or your home, or if a branch has died and it becomes a safety hazard.

You can also prune lower branches to encourage upward growth, but care should be taken as trimming too many branches can harm the overall health of the tree. Some people also like to prune for aesthetic reasons so their trees are uniform and clean looking.

Another reason to prune is to help the growth of nearby trees or shrubs, as the dense pine needles can block out the sun and overcrowd other species.

How often should I trim a pine tree?

If your pine tree is healthy, achieving optimal growth and there aren't any diseased or dead branches then there isn't much reason to prune your pine tree.

If you do need to shave down some branches because the tree is getting too big, then once every year or two go in and prune the troublesome branches. The tree will continue to grow but you can push back its growth if the branches are coming to close to your home, driveway or other trees.

Once every year or two just use your pruning and trimming equipment to snip off the ends of any branches, or remove full limbs, that are causing problems. Just be conservative with how much you're trimming.

What's the best time of year to prune a pine?

You can prune pine trees during any time of the year but the best time of the year is the spring, since it gives the tree time to heal before snowfall. It also allows a chance for new growth of branches which will be more fully formed by the following spring.

How do I trim pine tree branches?

Just take your pruning or trimming equipment and cut off the ends of any branches which are growing too far. Make sure you make clean cuts and don't trim too many branches or you could harm the overall health of the tree.

Any dead branches should be pruned to aid the growth of the tree. To ensure the branch is dead check to ensure the branch is free of any pine needles and is dry. You'll know for sure it's dead when you cut into it with your sheers and it will sound like it's crunching and snapping. If you're meeting a lot of resistance and the branch feels soft then it's still alive and should be left alone.

What do I do with pine tree branches?

Pine tree branches are incredibly useful, not just around your home and garden but also as seasonal decorations.

If you own a wood chipper you can chip them up into a pile of wood chips and use them in your garden or let them sit and turn into mulch. If you own a chipper with Woodland Mills' patented Twin Flywheel technology like the TF810 PRO then you can easily chip fresh, green branches right after pruning.

Let them dry for a bit then use them in your garden as fresh bedding to suppress weed growth and maintain the ideal temperature and moisture content in the soil.

You can also keep the branches and use them as decorations around the holidays. Put a few branches in a planter and tie a ribbon around them and you can feel the seasonal warmth radiating out of them.

Does pine make for good wood chips?

Yes. Pine trees can be a valuable source of carbon, they have a great smell and because they're so soft they can be chipped very easily.

This means you can chip them up in your Woodland Mills wood chipper and use them around your garden, in pathways around your property or to create mulch.

To Summarize: Trimming Pine Trees can be Effective and Beneficial

Pine trees are a common species in North America and Europe and have a ton of utility. Just be sure to follow these steps when trimming:

• • Don't prune too much from your trees

  • Only prune branches which are overgrowing, diseased or dead

  • Prune in the spring to give time for healing

  • Use your Woodland Mills wood chipper to turn leftover branches into a pile of wood chips

  • You can use pine wood chips in your garden or around your property