Best time to trim or remove trees in Tallahassee

Short answer: do big pruning on live branches in winter, before new leaves come out in early spring. Remove dead, broken or hanging limbs whenever you see them. Get storm-prep work done before June 1. Before any cutting, check for active bird nests. The Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department’s urban forester says the best time to prune is the dormant season or early spring, because insect and decay activity slows down and the tree has more time to seal the wound. (Tallahassee-Leon County Planning, Urban Forestry at Home; UF/IFAS ENH1063)

Tallahassee Tree Match is a free matching service, not a tree company or an arborist. This page summarizes public guidance from UF/IFAS, the City of Tallahassee and federal wildlife agencies. Your trees and your site may need different advice from an ISA-certified arborist.

What can be done any time of year

UF/IFAS says removing dying, diseased, broken, rubbing or dead limbs can be done at any time with little negative effect on the tree. (UF/IFAS ENH1063, Preventive Pruning: Mature Trees) The City’s urban forester adds that hanging or broken branches can be knocked loose by a windy day, and that dead branches are best pruned so the wound can seal properly. (Urban Forestry at Home) A hazard is a hazard in any month. If a limb is hanging over the roof, the driveway or a walkway, don’t wait for winter. Our warning-signs guide covers what needs attention today.

Why winter is best for big cuts

Less insect and decay activity. The City’s urban forester says winter and early spring are ideal because insect and decay activity slows down, giving the tree more time to seal the pruning wound. UF/IFAS says pruning dormant trees can lower pest problems from wounding and lets the tree use the whole growing season to close and compartmentalize the wound. (City/County urban forester; UF/IFAS ENH1063)
You can see the structure. UF/IFAS notes that on deciduous trees, defects are easier to see when live-branch pruning is done in winter or before growth resumes in early spring. Water oaks, sweetgums and other trees that drop leaves are much easier to read bare. (UF/IFAS ENH1063)
It’s before storm season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, so winter work is done well ahead of it. (NOAA National Hurricane Center)

Don’t go overboard, though. UF/IFAS Extension in Jackson County, writing for North Florida, warns that pruning too eagerly early in winter can push tender new growth that a late freeze then damages, and in midwinter recommends sticking to dead, diseased and damaged wood. (UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County, 2026)

When to avoid heavy pruning: the spring flush

UF/IFAS says growth can be reduced if live branches are pruned during or soon after the first flush of spring growth, because the tree has just spent a lot of stored energy on new roots, leaves and shoots. It advises against pruning live branches on stressed trees at this time, since they need all their leaves to recover. (UF/IFAS ENH1063) Spring is also when many birds are nesting (see below).

Live oaks, laurel oaks and water oaks

UF/IFAS’s live oak fact sheet says to avoid pruning from midspring to early summer in areas where oak wilt is present, and that dormant or summer pruning is best. (UF/IFAS ST564, Southern Live Oak) Oak wilt is a fatal disease that has killed many oaks in Texas, but the Florida Forest Service and UF/IFAS report that it has not been detected in Florida. (Florida Forest Service (FDACS); UF/IFAS FOR274) So in Tallahassee, skipping big oak cuts in spring is a sensible precaution rather than a local rule.

Laurel oaks and water oaks get extra attention here for a different reason: the City’s urban forester describes both as prone to internal decay and storm damage, and notes that water oak is a poor compartmentalizer, so decay should be taken seriously. Clean pruning cuts and no topping matter even more on these trees. (Urban Forestry at Home)

Pines

Pines don’t need much routine pruning beyond dead lower limbs. The bigger issue is bark beetles. UF/IFAS says Ips engraver beetles usually go after pines that are already stressed, declining or fallen, and for home landscapes recommends not compacting, injuring or paving over pine roots and watering deeply in long droughts. When an infested pine is removed, crews should avoid injuring the pines around it. (UF/IFAS IN701, Ips Engraver Beetles) The City’s urban forester points out that pines can brown and die months after a hurricane from twisting damage inside the trunk, and that removing dead and declining pines matters because they can attract pine beetles. (Urban Forestry at Home)

Crape myrtles and flowering trees

UF/IFAS says trees that bloom on the current season’s growth, such as crape myrtle, keep the most flowers if pruned in winter before leaves emerge, or in summer just after bloom. Trees that bloom on last season’s wood, such as cherries, should be pruned just after they bloom. (UF/IFAS ENH1063) Whatever the season, don’t chop crape myrtles back to stubs: the City’s urban forester uses a topped crape myrtle as the example of pruning that “is always damaging to trees and should be avoided.” (Urban Forestry at Home)

Bird nests and eagle nests

Songbirds and other migratory birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects most bird nests, and that it is illegal to destroy a nest with eggs or chicks in it, or while young birds still depend on it. The Service usually requires waiting until the nest is inactive. (USFWS, Bird nests) Before a crew starts, walk the tree with them and look for active nests, including in cavities.

Bald eagles. Florida has one of the densest concentrations of nesting bald eagles in the lower 48 states. (FWC) Eagle nests are protected at all times, used or not, and can’t be removed, moved or tampered with without a federal permit. (USFWS, Eagle nest removal permits) The Service’s Florida eagle monitoring guidelines use a nesting season of October 1 to May 15. As a general rule, they say land and lot clearing and similar work within 660 feet of a nest tree should be done outside that season, and they recommend none within 330 feet during it. (USFWS bald eagle monitoring guidelines) If there is an eagle nest on or near your property, talk to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before planning tree work near it. FWC’s eagle management page explains that since 2017 only a federal permit is needed.

Trees near power lines

Don’t time this one yourself, and don’t do it yourself. Talquin Electric says not to trim vegetation on or near overhead power lines yourself, that its contractor trims only trees in the direct path of its lines, and that other trees on the property are the member’s job. (Talquin Electric, Tree trimming) If a tree or limb is touching a line, call your utility first; our storm damage guide lists the City of Tallahassee Utilities and Talquin numbers.

Season-by-season summary

This table is our summary of the UF/IFAS, City and federal guidance above, not a rule from any agency. Seasons in North Florida don’t follow the calendar exactly, so go by what your trees are doing.

Season	Good time for	Go easy on
Winter (leaves off, before spring growth)	Structural and live-branch pruning, big oak cuts, crape myrtle pruning, looking over bare trees for defects, planned removals	Heavy pruning too early in a mild spell; work near an eagle nest (nesting season Oct 1 to May 15)
Spring (new leaves pushing out)	Dead, broken and hanging limbs; getting quotes and booking storm-prep work	Heavy live-branch pruning, especially on stressed trees; big oak cuts; trees with active bird nests
Before June 1	Storm prep: deadwood, hanging limbs, arborist check on big trees near the house	Topping or stripping out inner branches
Summer to Nov 30 (hurricane season)	Dead and hazard limbs; crape myrtle right after bloom; checking pines that brown after a storm	Heavy live-branch pruning; injuring pine roots
Fall	Dead and hazard limbs; planning winter work	Work near an eagle nest from October 1

How much to take off, whenever you prune

About a quarter at most. The City’s urban forester says to remove no more than 25% of a tree’s crown at one time and wait at least a year before the next structural pruning session. UF/IFAS Extension in Jackson County gives roughly 25 to 30% of the live canopy in one growing season. (Urban Forestry at Home; UF/IFAS Jackson County)
Cut at the branch collar. Cuts go just outside the slightly swollen collar where a branch meets the trunk, not flush and not leaving a stub. Wound paint is no longer recommended. (Urban Forestry at Home)
No topping. If a tree is too big for its spot, the City’s urban forester points to reduction pruning instead. UF/IFAS says reduction lets less decay into the tree than topping does. (Urban Forestry at Home; UF/IFAS ENH1063)
After a storm, wait and watch on trees that aren’t a danger. The City’s urban forester notes that a tree stripped of leaves by wind isn’t necessarily dead. Remove immediate hazards right away. (Urban Forestry at Home)

Hiring for pruning, not just removal

Ask whether the person pruning your tree is an ISA-certified arborist. The City of Tallahassee’s tree care sheet says hiring a tree service that employs ISA Certified Arborists means a minimum standard of professional care is being met, and that you should ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurer with you listed as the certificate holder. (City of Tallahassee, Caring For Your Trees (PDF); verify an ISA certification) If the quote includes removing a large tree, check our Tallahassee tree permit guide first, and see our cost guide for typical trimming prices. Our guide to choosing a tree service has the full checklist.

Questions

What is the best month to trim trees in Tallahassee?

For big live-branch pruning, winter, before new leaves push out in early spring. The Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department’s urban forester says the best time to prune is the dormant season or early spring, because insect and decay activity slows down and the tree has more time to seal the cut. UF/IFAS adds that dead, broken, diseased or rubbing limbs can be removed at any time of year.

Is it bad to trim trees in the summer in Florida?

Removing dead, broken or hanging limbs in summer is fine; UF/IFAS says that can be done any time with little harm. Heavy live-branch pruning is better left for winter. The City’s urban forester notes that insect and decay activity is higher in the warm months, and UF/IFAS advises against pruning live branches during or right after the spring growth flush, especially on stressed trees.

When should I prune live oaks in Tallahassee?

Winter is the safest window for big cuts. UF/IFAS’s live oak fact sheet says to avoid pruning from midspring to early summer where oak wilt is present. The Florida Forest Service and UF/IFAS report that oak wilt has not been detected in Florida, so here that is a precaution, not a rule. Remove dead or broken limbs whenever you see them.

Should I trim trees before hurricane season?

Yes, ideally well before June 1, when the Atlantic hurricane season starts. Have dead and hanging limbs removed and, on big trees near the house, ask an ISA-certified arborist about structural pruning to reduce weight on long or defective limbs. Do not top trees or strip out the inner branches; the City’s urban forester says topping is always damaging.

Can I cut down a tree with a bird nest in it?

Not while the nest has eggs or chicks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to destroy a nest with eggs, chicks or dependent young, and it usually requires you to wait until the nest is inactive. Bald eagle nests are protected at all times, used or not, and need a federal permit to remove. In Florida, eagle nesting season runs October 1 to May 15.

When is the best time to remove a tree?

A tree that is a real hazard should come down when it is a hazard, not on a calendar. For planned removals, winter is a practical choice: leaves are off many trees, so structure is easy to see, it is before hurricane season, and many songbirds aren’t nesting yet. Check for active nests first, and check permits for large trees inside City limits.

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