When is the best time to trim pine trees in California?

The dormant period from late winter through early spring is the best time to trim pine trees in California. The type of pruning known as pinching of one- to two-thirds of the growth on new, thick shoots, called candles, on branch tips must be done from early to mid-summer. Removal of damaged, dangerous, dead, decaying, diseased, dying tree parts needs to be done in dry weather by cuts into dry wood any time throughout the year if it will not wait until dormancy.