Most people aren't aware of how beneficial and necessary pruning is for their trees!
Here are a few reasons why you should consider pruning year-round:
Planting:
Just after transplanting, the tops should be pruned back to compensate for the loss of roots and to begin training the tree.
This should not exceed one-third of the plants total top growth.
Training:
To develop a strong framework against winds, a tree should be pruned to a few strong and well-spaced limbs
Similarly it maintains the shape the tree to prevent weak, energy-demanding limbs, and maximize its function and fruit production.
It should be pruned overtime and not all at once (with few exceptions)
Tree health:
Prune to eliminate dead and diseased branches and prevent the spread of insects which also allows the roots to shed unnecessary, tangled, diseased or damaged growth.
Prune to remove crowding and crossing limbs which cause competition for space
Prune to revitalize by reducing limbs and leaf cover which reduces the high energy demands on the roots especially in drier seasons
Prune to allow abundant light and air to pass through for energy capture and circulation
Safety:
Remove dead, broken, weak or split branches, or low hanging branches which might be a hazard to people, vehicles or buildings, especially during the heavy rainy season
Ecosystem Health:
Pruning is necessary for the forest system to thrive, have you ever noticed monkeys pruning the trees as they go from tree to tree?
This helps transition a forest that is in senescent (stagnant) state into one that is again thriving and building soil by creating a natural stressor that creates a growth pulse to the entire section of forest
It restores nutrients to the soil that is being held in the canopy in order to feed growth
It increases the amount of organic material on the forest floor to build soil (humus), to encourage moisture retention, prevent erosion and feed soil life
