Trees go into Dormant, and why it matters!

When Do Trees Go Dormant in Buffalo, NY – And Why It Matters

Here in Buffalo, NY, our trees deal with just about everything: hot, humid summers, heavy lake-effect snow, wild wind, and big temperature swings. One of their main survival tools is dormancy – a built-in rest period that helps them get through our long Western New York winters.

If you own a home or manage a property in Buffalo and the Southtowns, understanding when trees go dormant and why it matters can help you make smarter decisions about pruning, removals, and safety.

What Is Tree Dormancy?

Dormancy is basically a tree’s winter survival mode.

During dormancy, a tree:

• Slows or stops growth above ground

• Pulls nutrients back into the trunk and roots

• Lowers its metabolism to conserve energy

• Protects sensitive tissues from freezing

It might look “dead” from the outside, but it’s very much alive and quietly preparing for next season.

When Do Trees Go Dormant in Buffalo, NY?

Because of our climate (Buffalo is generally in USDA Zone 6 with cold, snowy winters), most shade and ornamental trees follow a pretty predictable pattern:

Late August – September: The Wind-Down Starts

Even while leaves are still green, trees notice:

• Shorter days

• Cooler nights

Inside the tree, hormones begin shifting. Growth slows, and it starts preparing for winter rest.

October – November: Visible Changes & Leaf Drop

This is when you really see dormancy kicking in:

• Leaves change color and drop from maples, oaks, ashes, and other deciduous trees

• Nutrients and sugars are pulled from leaves back into the tree for storage

• By mid to late November, most deciduous trees around Buffalo, West Seneca, Lackawanna, Blasdell, and South Buffalo are nearly bare in a typical year

Late November – March: Deep Dormancy

Once we’re into:

• Regular freezes

• Snow cover

• Short days

…trees enter deep dormancy. This usually runs from around late November through March, though exact timing shifts a bit year to year depending on weather.

During this period:

• Above-ground growth is essentially paused

• Metabolism is at its lowest

• The tree is focused on surviving cold, wind, and freeze–thaw cycles

Evergreens (spruce, pine, fir, arborvitae, etc.) still go dormant too — they just keep their needles, which are built to handle Buffalo winters better than broad leaves.

Late March – April: Waking Up Again

As:

• Days get longer

• The sun angle gets stronger

• Temperatures begin to stay above freezing more often

…trees start to “wake up.” Buds swell, and you’ll see the first hints of green typically in April around Buffalo, depending on the year.

Why Dormancy Is So Important in Buffalo’s Climate

1. Protection From Bitter Cold & Wind

Our lake-effect snow, strong winds, and deep freezes can be tough on trees. Dormancy helps them:

• Reduce the amount of free water in their cells (less chance of freezing damage)

• Harden buds and bark to withstand cold, dry winter winds

• Avoid pushing tender new growth during random mid-winter warmups

Without dormancy, we’d see far more cracking, dieback, and tree failure each winter.

2. Surviving Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Buffalo doesn’t just get cold — we get up-and-down temperatures:

Below freezing at night, above freezing during the day, sometimes over and over.

Dormant trees are better able to ride out:

• Ice loading on branches

• Sudden temperature drops

• Repeated freeze–thaw stress on bark and roots

3. Smart Energy Use When Conditions Are Harsh

In winter here:

• Sunlight is limited

• The ground can be frozen or waterlogged

• Roots can’t easily take up water

Trying to grow in those conditions would drain a tree’s stored energy. Dormancy allows it to live off what it stored in the summer and fall instead of fighting losing battles in January.

Why Tree Dormancy Matters for Buffalo Homeowners

Understanding dormancy helps you time maintenance and safety work the right way.

1. Ideal Time for Pruning

For many species, the best time to prune in Buffalo is during the dormant season, especially mid-winter to early spring (roughly January–March) when:

• The tree is under less stress

• There’s no foliage, so arborists can clearly see the structure

• Proper cuts heal more efficiently when growth resumes in spring

• The risk of spreading certain diseases is reduced for some species

There are exceptions (some trees have specific pruning windows), but as a general rule, dormant-season pruning is a big win in our climate.

2. Safer, Easier Hazard Tree Work

Dormancy is also a great time to address:

• Dead or cracked limbs over driveways, roofs, and play areas

• Trees that lean after storms

• Branches interfering with structures or power lines (coordination may be needed with utilities)

With leaves off, it’s easier to:

• Spot structural defects

• See how branches are attached

• Work safely around the tree

Addressing these issues before heavy, wet snow or spring windstorms can prevent property damage.

3. Planning Removals and Replacements

If a tree is:

• Clearly dead

• Severely decayed

• Posing a risk to structures

…winter can be an ideal time to remove it, especially once the ground is firm or frozen. Then, you can plan for new plantings in spring when the soil is ready and the tree nurseries are stocked.

What You Can Do As a Buffalo Property Owner

• Watch your trees in fall. Note which ones lose leaves early, hold dead branches, or look thin — these can be early warning signs.

• Schedule inspections during dormancy. Late fall and winter are excellent times to have a professional take a look at your trees’ structure and health.

• Plan ahead for pruning and removals. Don’t wait for a wind or ice storm to point out a problem branch the hard way.

If you’d like help evaluating your trees during their dormant season, I can help you turn this into a call-to-action for your site, like:

Not sure if your trees are ready for winter?

Schedule a dormant-season tree inspection and pruning with a local, insured tree service. Get ahead of storm damage before the next lake-effect system rolls through.