Ask the Experts, Tree Care & Trimming

Pruning Oak Trees

Pruning Oak Trees | Dallas Landscaping Company

Oak trees are one of the mightiest and strongest, however, there is one troublesome issue that can really get under their skin – rather, their bark.

It’s known as oak wilt, a disease that occurs when they are pruned during the wrong time of the year. In order to protect oak trees from this fatal fungal disease, there is a specific pruning window that must be followed. When you prune oak trees at the wrong time, sap beetles, which carry the oak wilt fungus invade the open wounds. These insects smell the fungus on infected trees, feed on them, and spread it to healthy trees that have fresh cuts.

When is the best time for pruning oak trees?

The best time for pruning oak trees is from November until March. The insects that spread oak wilt are busy during the months of April until August, so it’s advisable to prune Texas trees during the coldest months of the year. In most areas in Texas, that’s January until February, when trees are dormant.

Why should you prune oak trees?

Proper pruning, done at the right time, is essential to keep your trees healthy. The tree’s internal system slows down during the fall season, as it prepares to go dormant. Going dormant helps the tree survive the winter frost, and during this period, trees heal pruning wounds faster before the stressors of spring – like insects and diseases – arrive.

The importance of hiring a Dallas landscaping company with certified arborists

In general, tree pruning and trimming are tree care maintenance tasks that are best left up to your Dallas landscaping professionals. Employing improper techniques is one of the most dangerous and damaging things you can do to your tree. A certified arborist has the tools, knowledge, and experience to do the job safely, correctly, and efficiently.

Every tree is unique. Two oak trees situated next to each other may still react differently to their environment. A certified arborist will examine your trees carefully to determine their trimming and pruning needs, taking into account the environment, species, pest or disease activity, as well as the tree’s natural life cycle.