The Best Time to Trim Oak Trees
One of the keys to growing and maintaining a healthy Oak Tree comes from how pruning and trimming is managed. While resilient in almost other area of care, Oak Trees can be surprisingly fragile if pruning is done in the wrong season or improperly. Oak Trees come from the family of Fagaceae and the genus of Quercus. While the phrase "Oak Tree" is generally used to describe a group of trees that produces a certain type of popularly used hardwood lumber, there are more than 600 species in the Fagaceae Quercus family. Every part of the Oak Tree is usable, from the acorns to the lumber to the bark. In ancient mythology, as well as in actual history, the Oak Tree has long been considered symbolic of inner strength. Use these tips from professional horticulturists to keep the Oak Tree in your own backyard healthy and properly pruned for the balance of its long, strong lifespan.
When to Prune an Oak Tree
Oak Trees can be pruned for maintenance nearly any month of the year excepting the months of April, May or June. During these months, oak wilt beetles are fresh and active for the spring growth season. Oak Trees can be wounded from pruning, and the oak wilt beetle will make good use of easy access to enter the interior of the tree and damage or even kill a growing Oak Tree. The best time to prune an Oak Tree is when it is in its winter dormant state after the first frost has appeared.
How to Prune an Oak Tree
Remove all damaged, dead, or diseased branches first. Next, remove any branches that rub together or otherwise interfere with each other and cause wounds or other damage. Finally, for best results, prune for consistency, keeping the tree's growth and spread consistent with the growing root system.
