• Wisconsin trees can be trimmed in late fall to early winter.tree 1 image by michael luckett from Fotolia.com
  
  Trees add inestimable beauty and value to your property. Pruning trees keeps them attractive and can increase the value of their timber. Pruning also addresses a safety issue. You should remove or trim branches that could fall and cause injury or property damage, interfere with lines of sight on streets or driveways or are growing into utility lines, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Knowing when and how to prune in Wisconsin ensures healthy trees.
  
  

Evergreen Trees

• Pines, spruces, firs and hemlocks grown in a pyramidal form, and their low branches should remain intact, according to the Ozaukee Master Gardeners. You can remove dead, diseased or broken branches. Branches that are crossed and rubbing away bark also should be removed. To encourage denser, more compact growth, remove about half of a pine tree's elongated terminal buds in late winter, when trees in Wisconsin are still dormant. Firs can be trimmed back to a lateral bud in early summer. Hemlocks grown in Wisconsin can be sheared back in late spring after new growth has emerged.
  
  

Deciduous Trees

• In Wisconsin, deciduous trees can be pruned in late fall to winter. Young trees should be pruned to encourage a well-branched canopy, according to the University of Wisconsin Extension. Removing lower branches raises the canopy, making it easier to mow or garden below the tree. No more than one-third of the tree's total crown should be trimmed at one time. In addition to dead, diseased and broken branches, you should remove waterspouts and root suckers. Older trees rarely need pruning, and they should never be topped.
  
  

Three-Point Method

• The three-point method is a tried-and-true way to safely trim large tree branches and prevent bark ripping. The first cut should be made as a shallow notch on the bottom of the branch, outside the branch collar, according to Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. Make the second cut outside the first, cutting entirely through the branch. This leaves a short stub. Then remove the stub up to the branch collar.
  
  

Cutting Tips

• If you are using hand pruners to trim small branches, ensure your tools are quite sharp to avoid tearing when you cut. If you are trimming branches with a saw, support the branch as you cut. For very large limbs or to remove a tree, contact your local Wisconsin Cooperative Extension office for the name of a certified arborist.