“>
(function(){var btn=document.getElementById(‘htsMenu’),mob=document.getElementById(‘htsMobNav’),cls=document.getElementById(‘htsMobClose’);function openMenu(){mob.classList.add(‘open’);btn.classList.add(‘open’);document.body.style.overflow=’hidden’;}function closeMenu(){mob.classList.remove(‘open’);btn.classList.remove(‘open’);document.body.style.overflow=”;}if(btn)btn.addEventListener(‘click’,openMenu);if(cls)cls.addEventListener(‘click’,closeMenu);if(mob)mob.addEventListener(‘click’,function(e){if(e.target===mob)closeMenu();});}());
Hampshire Tree Care Calendar
Month-by-month guidance on when to book tree surgery, what to avoid and how to plan ahead — from people who work in Hampshire trees every day.
NPTC qualified arborists · Serving Winchester & Hampshire since 2018
Timing matters more than most people think
The right work at the wrong time of year can stress a tree, break the law, or cost you significantly more. Fruit tree pruning in late summer, oak pruning in July, hedge cutting during nesting season — all common and costly mistakes.
This calendar covers what Hampshire homeowners need to know, month by month — the best windows for each type of work, and the things to watch out for.
- Covers all major tree surgery operations
- Wildlife and legal considerations included
- Hampshire weather and ground conditions factored in
- Links to relevant services throughout
Quick reference: best seasons
Best: Nov–Feb (dormant, leaves off, cleaner work)
Best: Jan–Mar (before bud burst)
Best: Jun–Aug (shading impact at its clearest)
Best: Nov–Feb (bare-root, best establishment)
Year-round, best on firm ground (Oct–Mar)
Best: Apr–Oct (symptoms visible in leaf)
Monthly tree care guide
Click any month to see what tree work is recommended, what to avoid, and what to plan ahead for.
January — Peak winter working season
Good this month
- 🌲Tree removal & felling — dormant season means cleaner cuts, less sap and easier timber handling
- ✂️Fruit tree pruning — January to March is the classic window for apples, pears and plums
- 💪Structural crown pruning — full branch architecture visible without leaves
- 🪵Stump grinding — firm winter ground makes site access straightforward
Watch out for
- 🦇Check for roosting bats before removing veteran trees, hollow stems or those with dense ivy — bats are protected year-round
- ❄️Frozen ground delays stump grinding — confirm conditions before booking heavy machinery
February — Last of the dormant window
Good this month
- 🍎Fruit tree pruning — ideal timing, just before bud burst; most species respond best now
- 🌿Pollarding — February to March is the optimum window for willows, limes and planes
- 💀Deadwooding — dead wood fully visible without leaf cover; easier assessment and removal
- 📅Book spring and summer work now — diaries fill quickly once the season turns
Watch out for
- 🐦Bird nesting can begin as early as late February in mild spells — check hedges and dense canopy before any pruning
- 🌱Last chance for bare-root tree planting this season — container-grown trees are the alternative from March
March — Transition month
Good this month
- 🌿Ivy removal — full extent of coverage visible before ivy leafs up; ideal timing
- 📋TPO applications for summer work — submit now to allow the 8-week council decision period
- 🔍Tree health surveys — first leaf emergence makes ash dieback symptoms visible; ideal timing
- ✂️Last chance for dormant-season fruit tree pruning before bud burst on early species
Watch out for
- 🐦Nesting season is underway — a professional nest survey is required before tree removal or heavy pruning
- 🍑Do not prune cherry, plum or other Prunus species — silver leaf disease enters through wounds in wet spring conditions
April — Spring growth, peak nesting
Good this month
- 🍂Ash dieback assessment — delayed or absent leaf burst is the key diagnostic symptom; April is the window
- 📄BS 5837 tree surveys for planning applications — spring is ideal as tree status is clearly visible
- 🌱Container-grown tree planting with good irrigation — bare-root season is over but container stock establishes well
- 📋Plan and book crown thinning and lifting for summer — busy season approaching
Watch out for
- 🐦Nesting season at its peak — professional nest check legally required before significant tree work or removal
- 🌳Do NOT prune oaks from April through July — high-risk period for acute oak decline and pathogen transmission through fresh wounds
May — Full spring canopy
Good this month
- ☀️Crown thinning assessment — shading impact at its most apparent; ideal time to evaluate how much work is needed
- 🍎Summer pruning of trained fruit trees (espaliers, fans, cordons) begins from late May
- 🔍Tree health surveys — full canopy visible, health and structural issues clearly assessable
- 💀Deadwooding — dead branches obvious against green growth; good visibility for climbers
Watch out for
- 🐦Nesting season continues through August — nest check required before any tree removal or significant pruning work
- 🌳Oak pruning still prohibited — wait until late August at the earliest before any work on oaks
June — Peak summer season
Good this month
- ☀️Crown thinning — the ideal month; full shade effect is at its most apparent and measurable
- 🚗Crown lifting — full leaf reveals exactly what clearance is needed over driveways, paths and lawns
- 🍎Summer pruning of trained fruit trees (espaliers, fans, cordons) — June to August
- 🌿Ivy removal — fully leafed coverage at its most obvious; impact on host trees clearly visible
Watch out for
- 🐦Bird nesting still active through August — nest survey required before any felling or heavy crown work
- 🌳Do not prune oaks — risk of acute oak decline pathogen transmission is at peak through summer months
July — High summer
Good this month
- ☀️Crown thinning and lifting — full canopy season continues; shading assessments most accurate
- 🔍Tree health surveys — disease symptoms and structural issues at their clearest in full leaf
- 📄Arboricultural reports for planning applications — trees in full leaf give the clearest assessment
- 🍎Summer pruning of trained fruit trees continues — reduces vigour and improves fruit quality
Watch out for
- 🌳Avoid oak pruning until late August at the earliest — risk of pathogen transmission through fresh cuts remains high
- 🌡️Hot dry weather stresses recently pruned trees — ensure any new plantings have adequate water through summer
August — Late summer
Good this month
- 🍎Fruit tree pruning (untrained trees) — late August onwards is the traditional start of the summer pruning window
- 🍂Ash dieback surveys — ideal window before leaf fall; symptoms at their most visible
- ☀️Crown thinning and lifting continue through August
- 📅Book autumn and winter tree removal now — September and October diaries fill fast
Watch out for
- 🐦Nesting season typically ends in late August — confirm no active nests before cutting; late broods are common in warm years
- 🪵Dry hard ground can affect stump grinding access — check site conditions before booking
September — Autumn begins
Good this month
- 🌱Tree planting — container-grown trees settle in well during September; soil is warm and moist
- 🍎Fruit tree pruning (after harvest) — September is a good window for untrained apple, pear and plum
- 📋TPO applications for winter tree removal — submit now to allow the 8-week decision period
- 🍂Ash dieback assessments — symptoms at their most definitive just before leaf fall
Watch out for
- 💧Ground can become wet in September — check access for heavy machinery like chippers and stump grinders
- 📋Confirm TPO or conservation area status before booking any tree removal — enforcement doesn’t pause for autumn
October — Autumn in full
Good this month
- 🌱Bare-root tree planting season begins — best value and outstanding establishment rates
- 🌲Tree removal — leaves beginning to fall, structure becoming visible; arisings easier to manage
- 🪵Stump grinding — prime season; ground firm but not frozen, good access
- 🌿Pollarding — October to November is a good secondary window for willows and limes
Watch out for
- 💧Ground conditions can be variable — confirm site access before scheduling heavy equipment
- 📋Confirm all necessary permissions for protected trees — TPO consent is still required regardless of season
November — Peak planting and winter work
Good this month
- 🌱Bare-root tree planting peak — November to February gives the best establishment rates
- 🌲Tree removal and felling — dormant season in full; leaves off, clean work, full structure visible
- ✂️Structural crown pruning — ideal visibility for assessing and improving tree architecture
- 💀Deadwooding — all dead wood now clearly visible without leaf cover; most efficient time of year
Watch out for
- 🦇Check for roosting bats before removing veteran trees or those with cavities — bats are legally protected year-round
- 💧Wet or frozen ground can affect stump grinding and site access — plan accordingly
December — Quietest booking window
Good this month
- 🌲Tree removal — quietest booking period of the year; often the shortest wait times
- ✂️Structural crown pruning and pollarding — full dormancy, clean cuts, minimal stress
- 🌱Bare-root tree planting continues through December and into the new year
- 📅Plan ahead — book spring and summer work now before diaries fill in February and March
Watch out for
- ❄️Frozen ground delays stump grinding — confirm ground conditions before scheduling grinding work
- 🌑Short daylight hours in December mean larger jobs may need to be split across two days
Services mentioned in this guide
All work carried out by NPTC-qualified arborists across Winchester and Hampshire.
Crown ReductionPruning & shaping
Crown ThinningLight & airflow
Crown LiftingClearance below
PollardingCyclical reduction
DeadwoodingSafety & health
Fruit Tree PruningApples, pears, plums
Stump RemovalGrinding & clearance
Tree PlantingSpecies advice & planting
Ivy RemovalTrees & buildings
Tree SurveysHealth & stability
TPO ApplicationsCouncil consent
We serve customers across Hampshire — including Romsey, Alresford, Chandler's Ford and Stockbridge.
Ready to book — or just want advice?
Tell us about your trees and we’ll tell you what work makes sense and when.
(function(){
var nav=document.getElementById(‘hts-nav’);
window.addEventListener(‘scroll’,function(){nav.classList.toggle(‘scrolled’,window.scrollY>20);},{passive:true});
var tabs=document.querySelectorAll(‘.hts-cal-tab’);
var panels=document.querySelectorAll(‘.hts-cal-panel’);
function showMonth(m){
tabs.forEach(function(t){t.classList.remove(‘active’);});
panels.forEach(function(p){p.classList.remove(‘active’);});
var activeTab=document.querySelector(‘.hts-cal-tab[data-m=”‘+m+'”]’);
var activePanel=document.querySelector(‘.hts-cal-panel[data-m=”‘+m+'”]’);
if(activeTab)activeTab.classList.add(‘active’);
if(activePanel)activePanel.classList.add(‘active’);
}
tabs.forEach(function(tab){tab.addEventListener(‘click’,function(){showMonth(this.getAttribute(‘data-m’));});});
showMonth(new Date().getMonth());
})();