🌳 Shade & Hardwood Trees #

• Live Oak, Laurel Oak, Water Oak: every 3–5 years (sooner if close to the house). Oaks drop heavy limbs in storms if not maintained.
• Maple (Red, Florida Maple): every 3–5 years.
• Southern Magnolia: every 3–4 years, light structural pruning as needed.
• Elm (Winged, American, Drake): every 3–4 years — elms can grow quickly and need thinning.

🌴 Palms (very common in Florida yards) #

• Sabal (Cabbage Palm), Queen Palm, Sylvester Palm, Date Palm, Royal Palm: once a year, removing only dead/brown fronds and seed pods.
  ⚠️ Don’t “hurricane cut” (removing all but the top fronds) — it weakens the palm.

🍊 Fruit & Flowering Trees #

• Citrus (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime): once a year after fruiting.
• Crepe Myrtle: every year or two, light shaping only — don’t “top” them.
• Loquat, Avocado, Mango: annually, after harvest.

🌲 Pines #

• Slash Pine, Sand Pine, Longleaf Pine: rarely need trimming except to remove dead/dangerous limbs.

✅ Rule of Thumb:

• Young trees → more frequent trimming (every 2–3 years) for shaping.
• Mature shade trees → every 3–5 years.
• Palms & fruit trees → yearly.

Here’s a Central Florida tree trimming checklist for spotting urgent needs: #

1. Dead, Diseased, or Dying Branches #

• Branches with no leaves in the growing season.
• Blackened, cracked, or fungus-covered areas.
• Weak or hollow branches that could break in a storm.

Why: Dead or diseased branches can fall and damage property or spread disease to healthy parts of the tree.

2. Crossing or Rubbing Branches #

• Branches that rub against each other or against structures.

Why: Rubbing creates wounds where disease and pests can enter.

3. Branches Near Structures #

• Branches hanging over roofs, fences, cars, or power lines.

Why: Storms or strong winds can snap these branches and cause damage.
⚠️ If near power lines, hire Tree Solutions Central Florida, LLC

4. Imbalanced or Heavy Canopy #

• One side of the tree is heavier than the other.
• Branches grow downward or in strange angles.

Why: Imbalanced trees are more likely to tip or break in storms.

5. Signs of Pest or Disease #

• Sawdust, holes in bark, oozing sap, or leaf discoloration.
• Fungal growth at the base or on branches.

Why: Early pruning can help stop the spread of pests or disease.

6. Young Trees – Shaping Needs #

• Multiple competing trunks (“codominant stems”).
• Branches growing inward toward the trunk.

Why: Proper early pruning prevents weak branch structure in the future.

Extra Tips for Central Florida #

• Trim before hurricane season (May–June) to reduce storm damage.
• Avoid heavy pruning of palms except removing brown fronds — overcutting weakens them.
• Always use a certified arborist for large oaks or branches near structures to prevent injury or fines.