Larger Scotch pine should probably be the last group of trees sheared during the summer. Red and Austrian pines are less affected by delayed summer shearing than white pine but more so than Scotch pine. Thus, smaller red and Austrian pine should be sheared before smaller Scotch pine. Depending on location within the state, site factors and weather conditions, all shearing of white pine should be completed by early to mid July, red and Austrian pine by mid to late July and Scotch pine by late July to early August. However, shearing should not be delayed.
Results are best when all pines are sheared just after completion of height growth.
Once the rush of the pine shearing season is over, shearing on the single-needle conifers can proceed at a more leisurely pace. Spruces, firs and Douglas-fir can be sheared with good results from late July or early August and continuing until just before new growth starts the following spring. Examples of time required for shearing different size trees and using different types of equipment are presented in Table 8.