Simple trimming of fruit trees during the winter will promote healthy crops in the next season’s production. The messy ooze of sap from the various mesquite varieties can be reduced by pruning in January and throughout the coming months. General pruning of deciduous and evergreen trees will expose branches to the sun that were previously shaded by other branches. By trimming select trees in the cooler months, these branches are able slowly adapt to the sunlight, rather than being scorched by it in the summer heat. However, any frost-damaged leaves or branches should not be trimmed until temperatures warm, and there is no longer a risk of frost.