Hi, Deborah: Thanks for this excellent question. FWIW, what you describe sounds less like pruning and more like tree work necessary for the sake of safety. Be that as it may, most deciduous plants are dormant during winter and perfectly OK to actually prune to get rid of dead wood and encourage new growth in spring. How dormant the tree is, or even whether it’s dormant at all, would depend on the type of tree and the exact microclimate of its site, but we would just go ahead and have it done. Thanks again!
Hi, Deborah: Thanks for this excellent question. FWIW, what you describe sounds less like pruning and more like tree work necessary for the sake of safety. Be that as it may, most deciduous plants are dormant during winter and perfectly OK to actually prune to get rid of dead wood and encourage new growth in spring. How dormant the tree is, or even whether it’s dormant at all, would depend on the type of tree and the exact microclimate of its site, but we would just go ahead and have it done. Thanks again!