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Debate: Pruning oaks in summer vs waiting for winter dormancy - who's right?
My old boss swore by summer pruning for oaks. Said the wounds heal faster and you can see the deadwood better. But the county extension agent told me to never touch an oak between April and October because of oak wilt spreading through beetles. I've done it both ways over the last 3 years on about 15 oaks in central Indiana and haven't seen a single case of oak wilt either way. Is the winter-only rule overblown or did I just get lucky? What's your take?
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theabarnes20d agoMost Upvoted
Gotta disagree with @oliver_anderson here. Pruned plenty in summer with zero issues.
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oliver_anderson21d ago
Central Indiana here too. I've been pruning oaks for over a decade. You got lucky. Oak wilt moves slow. Takes years sometimes to show up. I've seen it kill a whole block of red oaks in Brownsburg. The beetles are most active April through June. They smell fresh cuts like a dinner bell. White oaks are tougher but red oaks drop dead fast. Why risk it when winter is way safer?
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