---
title: February Tree Care in Northern Nevada: Calendar
url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-care-calendar/february/
business: Battle Born Tree Service
address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701
phone: 775.232.8243
hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service
credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured
type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood)
---

- [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/)
- [The Field Guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/)
- [Tree care calendar](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-care-calendar/)
- February

# Tree care in February in Northern Nevada

February is the main pruning window for most deciduous trees in Northern Nevada: they are still dormant, and the spring growth flush has not started. Conifers wait until early spring and summer, and hazards can be cut any time.

Thirty-year normals for this month at Reno, Carson City, Minden, Glenbrook and Fallon:

## February weather normals

| Station | Elevation (ft) | Precipitation (in) | Snowfall (in) | Mean temperature (F) | Average low (F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reno airport | 4,410 | 1.03 | 5.2 | 40.6 | 29.0 |
| Carson City | 4,761 | 1.48 | 1.7 | 38.3 | 27.1 |
| Minden | 4,709 | 1.3 | 4.1 | 36.7 | 22.1 |
| Glenbrook | 6,350 | 2.71 | not reported | 33.1 | 25.1 |
| Fallon | 3,965 | 0.47 | 0.7 | 37.8 | 23.3 |

Source: [NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals). Monthly normals for February at five stations. Glenbrook publishes no snowfall normal.

## February checklist

- Prune deciduous shade trees while they are dormant and before buds swell
- Finish backyard fruit-tree pruning in the dormant season
- Hold conifer pruning for early spring and summer
- Take dead, broken and hanging wood out of any tree any time
- Note that the Washoe County burn code ends with February
- Have an arborist look at large trees over structures before the growing season
- Call 811 before any stump grinding

Between January and February the valley stations warm by 3.5 to 5 F, but Glenbrook on the Tahoe shore barely moves, from 32.7 F to 33.1 F. That gap is why a pruning window that opens in the valley in February does not open at the lake until later.

## February weather at five stations

February's mean temperature at the Reno airport is 40.6 F, up 3.7 degrees from January; Carson City rises 3.5 degrees to 38.3 F. Snowfall drops in most places, with Carson City falling from 3.6 inches to 1.7 inches, while Reno stays at 5.2 and Minden gets 4.1 inches. Glenbrook is still the wet one, with 2.71 inches of precipitation.

| Station (elevation, ft) | Mean temp (F) | Precip (in.) | Snow (in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno airport (4,410) | 40.6 | 1.03 | 5.2 |
| Carson City (4,761) | 38.3 | 1.48 | 1.7 |
| Minden (4,709) | 36.7 | 1.30 | 4.1 |
| Glenbrook (Tahoe) (6,350) | 33.1 | 2.71 | no normal |
| Fallon (3,965) | 37.8 | 0.47 | 0.7 |

Station normals, not town averages. NOAA flags Glenbrook's temperature normals as reduced completeness and publishes no snowfall normal there.

## What the trees are doing

Sap has not started to run in earnest, and buds are tight. The tree's structure is bare and open to inspection. This is the stage Battle Born's own pruning advice and the International Society of Arboriculture point to for most deciduous trees: late winter, while dormant, before spring growth.

## Jobs that fit February

Structural pruning of ash, honeylocust, elm and maples, removal of crossing and rubbing limbs, and reduction of weight on long limbs all fit here. A dormant tree shows what to cut, and fresh cuts have time to start closing when growth begins. Take no more than 15 to 20 percent of a mature fruit tree's live wood in one year, per University of Nevada, Reno Extension. For the species-by-species timing, see [the pruning timing guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/best-time-to-prune-trees-northern-nevada/), and for what each cut means, [crown thinning, raising and reduction](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/crown-thinning-raising-reduction/).

Never top a tree. Topping removes the main leaders and invites weak regrowth; see [why topping is not pruning](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/why-tree-topping-is-not-pruning/).

## Leave alone for now

Most conifers are pruned in early spring and summer, not in February. Do not prune live wood on a tree just because the weather is mild for a day. Call 811 before stump grinding below grade, whatever the month.

## Valley versus lake

On the Tahoe shore Glenbrook's mean stays at 33.1 F, so access and snow cover, not the calendar, set the pruning window. Its 2.71 inches of precipitation, against 0.47 at Fallon, shows the difference in water. If you are unsure whether it is the right month for your tree, a certified arborist can tell you, and we offer free estimates. Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) for a free estimate; the phone is staffed seven days a week, and a certified arborist assesses every job before work begins.

### Sources

- [NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly (Reno airport USW00023185, Carson City USC00261485, Minden USC00265191, Glenbrook USC00263205, Fallon Exp Stn USC00262780)](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) (pulled October 17, 2026)
- [International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Pruning Your Trees](https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner/pruningyourtrees) (read October 17, 2026)
- [University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Getting Started with Backyard Fruit Trees in Northern Nevada](https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=3171) (read October 17, 2026)
- [Call 811 (USA North 811)](https://call811.com/) (read October 1, 2026)
- [Northern Nevada Public Health: Wood-Burning Devices](https://www.nnph.org/programs-and-services/air-quality/Wood-Burning_Devices.php) (read October 17, 2026)

### Talk to the office

[775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243)

| Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered |

Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service.

[Free estimate](#quote)

### Keep reading

- [Best time to prune trees in Northern Nevada](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/best-time-to-prune-trees-northern-nevada/)
- [Pruning fruit trees in Reno and Carson City](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/pruning-fruit-trees-reno-carson-city/)
- [Crown thinning, raising and reduction: what each means](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/crown-thinning-raising-reduction/)
- [Call 811 before stump grinding](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/call-811-before-stump-grinding/)
- [Fall pruning in Northern Nevada: what to cut and what to leave](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/fall-pruning-northern-nevada/)
- [Northern Nevada tree care calendar](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-care-calendar/)

### Month by month

- [The full tree care calendar](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-care-calendar/)

[Previous month: Tree care in January in Northern Nevada](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-care-calendar/january/) [Next month: Tree care in March in Northern Nevada](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-care-calendar/march/)

## Questions people ask

Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week.

### When should I prune trees in Reno and Carson City?

Late winter, while dormant, suits most deciduous trees, and early spring or summer suits most conifers. Dead and hazardous wood can be removed any time.

### Does the Washoe County burn code end in February?

The code runs November 1 to the end of February. Check Northern Nevada Public Health for rules and the day's status.

### Is February too cold to prune fruit trees?

University of Nevada, Reno Extension recommends dormant pruning in late January and February before growth starts.