Winter is the ideal time to prune deciduous trees to prepare for spring, while evergreens should be pruned during the growing season. When pruning in winter, all dead, cracked, or broken branches are easy to identify without leaves. It is less stressful on trees and allows experienced arborists to more easily perform the work. Homeowners can prune young trees but should leave high or heavy branches of mature trees to professionals due to safety concerns. Proper pruning follows techniques like only removing 1/3 of the crown per season, leaving branch collars, and keeping tools sharp.