Timing

The Central Florida Tree Trimming Calendar

Published July 22, 2026 · Updated September 28, 2026 · Twisted Pine Tree Service

The short answer: late fall through winter is the easy season for oaks and crape myrtles, palms can be cleaned up any time of year, and hurricane season decides how early you want the rest of it done. It's late September as we update this, and the Atlantic season runs through November 30, so the next few weeks are a good time to look at what needs doing rather than a reason to start cutting.

We get asked "when should I trim this?" almost as often as "how much does it cost?" The honest answer is that it depends on the species. The trees we work on most (live oaks, laurel oaks, palms, and crape myrtles) each respond differently to when and how you cut. None of this is about rigid rules; it's about working with how each species grows instead of against it.

Oaks: dormant season is easiest, and structure matters more than the month

For live oaks, UF/IFAS says pruning in the dormant season or in summer works well, and to avoid midspring to early summer pruning where oak wilt is present. UF/IFAS's Gardening Solutions page notes oak wilt is primarily found in Texas, so it is not the main worry for most Central Florida yards. In practice we like late fall through winter for routine structural work: the slower stretch is easier on the tree, and with less going on in the canopy it's easier to see the branch structure and plan the cut.

What matters more than the month is the cut itself. UF/IFAS advises pruning young live oaks on a regular schedule until about age 30 to remove multiple trunks that compete with the leader and branches that form a narrow angle with the trunk, since those are more likely to split as the tree ages. A dominant central leader gives the tree stronger attachments and helps minimize wind damage. And if a limb is a hazard, it needs dealing with whenever it needs dealing with. Safety doesn't wait for the calendar.

Palms: less is more, and timing is flexible

Palms are a different animal, and a lot of the trimming done to them is overdone. UF/IFAS advice is to remove only fronds that are completely dead. Half-dead or yellowing fronds still provide some nutrients to the palm, so leaving them on is better for the tree even if it looks less tidy. UF/IFAS also says never to prune past the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions on the canopy, and that is the limit, not the goal.

On timing, UF/IFAS says there is no one time that is better than others to prune a palm. Removing flower and fruit stalks is fine too, since there is no evidence that removing living flower or fruit stalks harms the palm. That makes a fall or winter cleanup of dead fronds and seed pods a reasonable job, and it leaves less to come loose in the next storm. What we'd steer you away from is the "hurricane cut," where the canopy is stripped way back. UF/IFAS reports it isn't rooted in science, and that hurricane-cut palms were more likely to have their crowns snapped off.

Crape myrtles: late winter, and please, no "crape murder"

UF/IFAS says late winter is the optimal time to prune crape myrtles. A UF/IFAS Extension note on winter pruning adds a general caution: cutting too early can trigger tender new growth that is susceptible to late-freeze injury. So the calendar answer is late in the winter, not the first cool week of fall.

The bigger problem is topping, commonly called "crape murder," where the tree is chopped back to stubs every year. UF/IFAS says topping can be very damaging to the tree. It may produce larger blooms, but those flowers grow on thinner, weaker branches that droop, especially after rain, and may even break. A proper prune removes suckers and any crossed, damaged, or diseased branches and leaves the natural shape alone.

Hurricane season sets the outer deadline

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the National Hurricane Center puts the peak at September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. So if a big canopy job is on your list, the practical plan is to get it done before June rather than leave it for a storm week. If you're reading this in the fall, the season isn't over: look at your trees from the ground now, and use the quieter winter months to schedule the work you'd want finished before next June.

We put together a full breakdown of what to check on your own trees, and why some common "storm-proofing" advice actually backfires.

Quick answers

Whatever the species or the season, the goal is the same one behind everything we do: prune for the tree's long-term health and structure, not just how it looks on the day we leave. If you want a second opinion on when, or whether, something in your yard needs a trim, that's exactly what our tree trimming service is for.

Sources

• UF/IFAS: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) (pruning schedule, structure, dormant or summer pruning, oak wilt caution)
• UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Live Oaks (central leader, narrow-angle branches, oak wilt primarily in Texas)
• UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Pruning Palms (dead fronds only, timing, flower and fruit stalks, hurricane cut)
• UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Pruning Crapemyrtles (late winter, topping, what to remove)
• UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County: Winter Pruning in North Florida (pruning too early can trigger tender growth)
• National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Climatology (season dates and the September 10 peak)