If the oak tree in the backyard has not received trimming for a few years, it’s time to prune them soon.
Oak trees are massive, and if they are not contained, they can take over the property pretty quickly. To prevent them from getting out of control, it is essential to maintain a pruning schedule each year.
However, do you know when is the best time to prune oak trees? Read ahead to find out-
Oak trees look majestic no matter where you find them, so it might sound strange that someone wants to cut them up. But, even though oak trees can be left alone, they need some maintenance to continue to grow in a healthy and shapely manner. If you have one of these stunning trees, pruning them is a necessity to avoid diseases and rotting.
Another reason to prune them in time is that they can expand to seemingly no end and can end up blocking light to your entire yard. If you have other bushes and crops nearby, they will not receive enough sunlight and will eventually wither away.
Finally, there is always a risk of old branches breaking and falling, which can get dangerous to people, animals, and property.
Unlike what some people believe, summer is actually not a good time to prune oak trees. In fact, it might be the worst time of the year to cut short oaks. This is because of the risk of a fungal infection called oak wilt.
When the tree is cut down in summer, the exposed branches are susceptible to this disease which spreads very quickly. Often, the strongest oak tree will not be able to fight off the disease and will ultimately wither and die.
The best time to prune is actually from November to March, when it’s colder.
When pruning a young oak tree, we do not wish to cut down its size. Instead, we want it to grow well during the early growth stages and for that, pruning every two or three years is pretty important. Ideally, you should prune young trees mid-winter during the months of December and January.
During this time, the chance of trees catching life-threatening diseases is pretty low. Essentially, the pruned/wounded tree releases sap, which attracts a lot of bugs. These bugs bring dangerous bacteria and fungi with them. But, in winter, these bugs are not easily found, thus safeguarding the trees during this season.
The disease oak wilt is prevalent from April to July, so you should definitely avoid pruning trees during this time. In case you are not sure about the pruning process, reach out to a tree specialist, and they should be able to guide you.
When it comes to mature oak trees, pruning them is a matter of maintaining shape, structure, and health. For general upkeep, I think pruning them every three to five years should be good enough. Older oaks are also pruned to fix an issue they might be causing to the surroundings.
Cutting portions of trees to prevent them from falling off dead branches is common. As I mentioned earlier, another reason is that overgrown oaks block sunlight and limit the airflow, which restricts the growth of other vegetation.
Actually, there is no rule regarding the perfect way to prune an oak tree. They can be arranged in any way or shape that appeals to you as long as you remove the dead and rotting branches annually. However, the recommendation of pruning trees during winter seasons remains the same because the transmission of the disease is rarely observed outside of summers.
Before pruning an oak tree, there are a couple of things to check. Firstly, check to see if there are any guidelines provided by your city for large tree removals. Some areas require prior permission, so keep that in mind.
Secondly, given their scale, pruning oak trees is no easy task. Removing it yourself may involve many risks, which might get dangerous unless you have the training. If you are not sure about pruning oaks, consider hiring a tree specialist who can safely prune them for you.
Ultimately, timely care and attention will be fruitful in the long run, and you’ll be rewarded with healthy and safe oak trees.
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