At our sister company, White House Natives, in Luray, Virginia, there are a number of winter chores that occur over the winter to ensure that clients receive a great finished product.   This photo set covers winter pruning.  Steps include:

• Checking for girdling roots.
• Checking for and removing basal suckers.
• Limbing up.
• Removing crossing branches.
• Removing competing leaders.

These steps are shown below on a 2-inch caliper Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum).   Photos taken mid-February 2022.