We are now in the back half of the winter season, and now is the perfect time to plan, plant, and prune trees. Andrew Holsinger, Horticulture Educator at the University of Illinois Extension in Taylorville said with trees being bare, people can easily see where to prune their trees, and they don't have to worry about most threats, such as beetles and oak wilt.

Oak Wilt is one of the major threats to trees right now, but the cold season suppresses that threat and allows trees to repair themselves.

Holsinger said winter is important for vegetation because it provides interests   by how they've evolved to to their surroundings, including their bark structures, or branch location and characteristics.

Holsinger appeared on the NEWSTALK WTIM Morning Show.