Tree Trimmin

[lindy rig]

I know its probably been posted a hundred times, but I didn't see anything with a search.

When is it OK to trim branches from oak trees? Am I OK cutting off dead ones right now?

[smurfy]

yea you should be good wackin off the dead ones. and personally I have trimmed trees at all different times of the year and haven't killed one yet. that includes oak, birch, black walnut, pine, maple and elm.

[lindy rig]

cool, thanks smurf

[Tom7227]

Actually it is about as bad a time as you can get to do oak tree trimming. Wait until winter or you run the risk of spreading oak wilt.

[delcecchi]

Actually this is low risk. Wait a few months for no risk.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/dd3174.html

[lindy rig]

I just want to take off a few dead ones and won't be able to tell in winter. Thanks for the article - very informative

[luveyesdoefmn]

Paint the dead ones.

[delcecchi]

If they are really dead, they won't leak sap and attract the beetles that carry oak wilt, right?.

I'm glad the leaflet was of help. If you are pruning live stuff, I would wait until risk is gone, in later fall.

[Powerstroke]

To properly prune even a dead branch you should prune back to the branch collar so the tree can heal over the cut. This may mean getting into live wood.

If you can tell live from dead when there aren't leaves then you can mark the dead ones with paint or a ribbon now or you can wait another month or so and trim right before fall.

Oaks are most susceptible during spring and summer. Red oaks are way more likely to be affected.

If you're helpp bent on removing the dead limbs now you can cut them back and leave a stump that you can remove properly in the late fall/winter months.