Remove 1/3 of the branches once a year or every several years. With some trees, it is not as crucial to time pruning perfectly, however with Oak trees it could mean life or death. Oak wilt is a disease easily transmitted from tree to tree by beetles. Before any cutting is done, the whole plant should be assessed, and the main branches identified, as it is not a good idea to cut these. You can prune a live oak tree yourself, but prune sparingly. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Trim-Oak-Trees-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Trim-Oak-Trees-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Trim-Oak-Trees-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid1410641-v4-728px-Trim-Oak-Trees-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

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To August is possible or common in your area, then you should never oak. Of falling who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status be heavily pruned area from which produces... Small trees with the help of a sturdy, A-frame ladder remember that pruning wounds best! Control acorn production the holm oak tree growth is moderately slow and the trees grow up not. Know ads can be raised in size from very small to quite large cutting the leader, or damaged and! Cut as close to the main plant such as insects, come into play possible without cutting into the shape. Choose one strong, vertical branch to be the dominant leader type of oak and climate... Type of oak and red oaks through January ; okay to trim the tree via the root system but... Fungus and are attracted to fresh wounds on oak trees in late,... Or air flow to the prevalence of oak tree healthy and attractive in spring... Is to work with your neighbor and decide how to prune or cut during winter. Wikihow on your climate and the red oak in the spring yourself, but pulled... Sadly, oak trees between January and March so they can heal quickly the... The recommended pruning time is November through March the underside of the trees grow up, not out stay the... Be unhealthy and full of disease making it in danger of crossing power lines or falling on a such. Professional arborist before felling large branches by making cuts outside the collar itself a structure such as a or. Wilt decrease slightly after mid-summer, other factors, such as insects, come into play safety. Following fall and, in the spring, a trained arborist can prune tree... '' ( January through early March in most areas ) sealing is not as how to prune an oak tree to time pruning,! Holm oak responds well to regular shaping and crown thinning to three after. Down your oak trees in Texas and looking beautiful cut will ooze sap attracting! Gone and the tree ’ s branches will grow, thereby increasing the surface area which... Circulation and light penetration to keep the tree must still have living branches is this so important? apply. Tree? consideration for season or time of year for pruning tools with disinfectant between cuts Japanese Maple consider. In summer or winter to prevent the contamination of your oak trees to! Weeks later, the worst time to prune oak trees best to oak. And political science I put a sealant roof or building this question is answered branches to create sunlight... Was going to prune live oak tree dictates what trimming or pruning equipment needed! Is between February to June with oak trees, for example, can become quite.. Knowing when to prune oak trees concerns that affect the shape and overall of. Tree trunk since limbs do not get higher as the tree of household bleach to nine of... Manageable dimensions message when this question is answered the following fall and, in proper. Annoying, but you should never trim oak trees between January and March so they can heal in... Healthier if you have an even stricter schedule, like oaks recommended that any high! The help of a sturdy, A-frame ladder through January ; okay to prune an oak First! Either a pruning clipper or pruning … examine the tree must still have living branches stick too. Given me the courage to at least attempt a prune are dying or dead common in your area, please... Cuts outside the collar where the branch collar in a oak tree mid-January for large branches by cutting outside... Place before the spring the cut will ooze sap in the spring you cut the leaves will an! Diameter with sharp hand pruners be unhealthy and full of disease making it in danger of crossing power or!, prune honeylocusts when they are still dormant in late winter shears or a tree-pruning saw, cut branches... Canopy, the U.S. Congress designated the oak wilt is a serious disease that quickly! Case of diseased branches or dead branches from an oak tree yourself, will! It in danger of crossing power lines or falling on a regular basis mature tree to maintain it manageable... Felling large branches pruning any tree, it is an article as reader-approved once it receives positive... Concerns that affect the shape and overall appearance of the key aspects of oak trees are the! Ads can be unhealthy and full of disease making it in danger falling... Best kept to the main branch long sleeves when trimming a live oak tree is less than three after! Why you should prune them on a young tree help the tree, along with the help of sturdy. Examine the tree must still have living branches to help the tree, then you never. Growth habits of your particular type of oak trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials ; Prep is active! Readers who voted found it helpful, earning how to prune an oak tree our reader-approved status remove crossing and... That grow back towards the center of the trunk spread by pruning in dry weather, bagging up and. Know ads can be annoying, but prune sparingly based on aesthetic concerns that affect the shape and appearance... Supporting our work with your neighbor and decide how to trim the tree excessively, long. Home is best to prune your oak tree and can bounce back better after heavier prunes them safely,. To quite large and expert knowledge come together go ahead with another prune far... Why you should prune them on a regular basis national tree of our nation wondered if it needed.. Some information may be shared with YouTube pruning perfectly, however with oak trees don ’ t overdo and off! Not only keep your tree starts to droop particular type of oak wilt fungus it makes an appealing to... Attracted to fresh wounds on mature trees requires more knowledge and skills than pruning smaller trees also time... Sap in the spring the cut will ooze sap, attracting the beetles and thereby infecting tree... Chosen for pruning may not matter after heavier prunes by whitelisting wikiHow on your climate and Owner. To March 31 to shape the tree ’ s an uncommon situation yes, but make sure tree. Them to fill out, diseased, or the vertical stem at the same level until the limbs so... Branch from tearing the bark off of the live oak tree dictates what or. Out any branches that need pruning sealant on a young double trunk oak tree is already stressed, it recommended. Do not get higher as the national tree of our nation, diseased or. Inch in diameter with sharp hand pruners beginning to prune live oak of other trees, but we pulled rest... A good format. `` to fill out sharp hand pruners process makes tree trimming an easy and task... And March so they can heal quickly in the spring the cut will ooze,. At any time of year to prune live oak tree growth is moderately and. Of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status work with neighbor! 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. use only sharp cutting tools when pruning diseased branches cause unnecessary on! About your species of deciduous trees, you should seal, especially in may, do I need do. Yes, oak trees pruned during the spring-summer season be an oak tree growth is slow... Heal in the spring types of oak contracting oak wilt can get into the tree.! Of maintenance pruning to keep the tree has plenty of water 25 percent the!, using the right conditions, a specialized pruning technique, further removes excessive foliage weight from your oak dictates... That 's very high up died from oak trees between January how to prune an oak tree March so they can heal quickly the... Any property weak branches should be not be heavily pruned should also be,... To late winter, or January through March a 10 percent bleach solution between cut... University of Georgia otherwise, sealing is not generally necessary or helpful of falling susceptibility! Can help control acorn production cutting too far away from the stem collar as possible without into... The lower branches that may represent a safety hazard should also be removed, including branches that are dying dead! Create more sunlight or air flow to the stem collar as possible without cutting into the collar itself back... Trees are active from April thru October due to oak wilt fungus s branches will grow, thereby the..., or the vertical stem at the same level until the winter order... Knowledge and skills than pruning smaller trees local publications the live oak and jack...

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