When To Trim An Oak Tree In Michigan?

Oaks are most susceptible to oak wilt April 15-July 15 Better wait a couple of months. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources encourages residents to avoid cutting or trimming of oak trees between April 15 and July 15 to curb the spread of oak wilt.

When is it safe to trim oak trees?

• It is safest to trim oak trees during the colder fall and winter months. Oak trees are sensitive to trimming during the warmer months of the year, and trimming your oak trees during the summer can unnecessarily put your oak trees at risk for disease.

Is there a bad time to trim oak trees?

Oak wilt is most active from April to July, which is why you should never trim oak trees in the summer. To be safe, you should avoid pruning between April 1 and October 1. Davey arborists recommend pruning oak trees between November 1 and March 31.

What months can oak trees be trimmed?

Pruning: • It is best to prune oaks when they are dormant. Live oaks, which retain their leaves year round, are dormant July thru October. Deciduous oaks, which lose their leaves in winter, should be pruned during the winter. Oaks do not tolerate severe pruning and can be killed if topped or severely pruned.

Is it OK to trim live oak trees in the summer?

Our beloved oak trees should never be trimmed during the summer months. This is because oak trees have a disease called Oak Wilt, which is spread by pests and could infect and even kill oak trees that are trimmed between April and October. Always wait until the fall and winter to trim oak trees.

Can you prune an oak tree to keep it small?

Can you prune an oak or cherry tree to keep it small? Yup! You can keep oak and cherry trees small, too. While arborists prune fruit trees in late spring or early summer, you want to avoid pruning oaks between April and August to prevent spreading oak wilt.

How do you trim an oak tree without killing it?

How to Trim an Oak Tree Without Killing It

1. Only Trim in the Winter. With some trees, the time of year for pruning may not matter.
2. Clean Your Trimming Tools Before Use.
3. Be Aware of Which Branches You Trim.
4. Hire an Expert Tree Trimming Company.

Can you trim an oak tree in the spring?

Contrary to what many homeowners assume, summer is the worst time of year to cut off oak branches. Instead, it’s best to prune from late fall to early spring— November 1 to March 31 to be precise. These are the months when oak trees are less vulnerable to disease and infestations.

What time of year do you prune live oak trees?

Live oaks typically do a leaf exchange in late winter so it is better to trim them in late fall or early winter.

Should live oak trees be trimmed?

Trimming is a natural part of care for a live oak tree, but it has to be done right or the tree can be susceptible to tree wilt. To avoid the Nitidulid beetle and tree wilt in general, it is best to trim live oak trees during the late fall or winter months when the cold makes the insect least active during the year.

What to put on oak trees after pruning?

A thin coat of pruning seal coats pruning cuts and wounds so the fungal spores can’t stick to the sap, grow into the wound and infect the oak. Seal all oak wounds immediately with pruning seal or black paint regardless of the season.

What happens if you cut the top off an oak tree?

Topping reduces the photosynthetic engine of the tree (i.e., its leaf area); decreases vigor; increases susceptibility to insect, disease, and internal decay; reduces aesthetic value; severely alters your tree’s silhouette; creates potential future ‘breakage’ hazards from poorly structured crown/branches; and is time

How do you stop an oak tree from growing taller?

How to Make a Tree Stop Growing Upward

1. Cut the top of the tree back to within 2 inches where several other branches are growing from the main trunk.
2. Select a new lead from those branches growing closest to the top.
3. Prune back all the other limbs in the same section so that the top stay uniform to the rest of the tree.

How do you stop a tree from growing taller?

How to Stop a Tree From Growing

1. Prune back regularly. Depending on the type of tree, you can maintain a tree’s branch diameter through regular pruning practices.
2. Plant smart. Often people plant saplings in locations without considering the tree’s future growth.
3. Top it.
4. Choose a dwarf or miniature variety.
5. Kill the tree.