Tree Trimming & Pruning in Simi Valley & Ventura County

When to Trim Trees in Southern California

Timing matters — but in Southern California, it's more nuanced than the classic "trim in winter" advice from colder climates. Our mild winters mean most trees never fully go dormant, so the window for safe pruning is longer than it is in the Midwest or Northeast. That said, dormancy-adjacent timing (typically November through March) is still the sweet spot for most deciduous species like sycamores, liquid ambar, ash, and Chinese elm. Pruning during this period minimizes stress, reduces the chance of attracting boring insects through fresh wounds, and allows wounds to begin compartmentalizing before spring growth.

Flowering trees are a special case. If you have a jacaranda or crape myrtle, wait until after they finish blooming — otherwise you're cutting off the flower buds. Oaks in our region benefit from summer-to-fall avoidance during peak beetle activity. Evergreen trees like Southern magnolias can be shaped in late spring after their growth flush.

Storm prep trimming is time-sensitive for a different reason: Santa Ana wind season runs from October through April, and a weakly structured tree heading into those winds is a liability. We recommend scheduling storm prep pruning before October, ideally in late summer. Dead, diseased, or hanging branches should be removed immediately regardless of season — there's no safe time of year to leave a hazard overhead.