In this Martha Stewart article, David Horvath from Davey's Lake Bluff office says which trees homeowners should skip for winter pruning this December. 

Posted: December 16, 2025

Cherry blossom tree branches with pink, flowering buds in front of a blue sky.With winter approaching, your gardening to-do list is filled with maintenance tasks, like raking leaves, mulching plants, and removing snow. You might consider pruning trees, too—but not all of them should be cut back in December.

Trees that produce spring blooms on old wood should be left alone, as they rely on winter energy stores to produce flowers. Pruning them now won't kill the plant, but it can force energy toward new leaves and growth, rather than blooms.

So save pruning these five trees for spring or summer—and spend the winter looking forward to when they'll blossom once more.

To continue reading this article, click here. 

For more information, contact the Lake Bluff office. 

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental and utility infrastructure consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1880 and headquartered in Kent, Ohio, Davey has over 12,000 employees who create and deliver sustainable solutions. Davey continues to grow through expertise with the SEED Campus, its newest commitment to training, research and safety. Become part of the Davey legacy by applying today and join one of the top ten largest employee-owned companies in the U.S.

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