Time to do some Tree Pruning
For tree owners, it is now or never. It’s that time of year when pruning trees are not only required but is safe from the deadly oak disease, oak wilt. Between the months of January and February, oak wilt is almost nonexistent in the air. It can only exist in the soil. However, with soil temps below 65 degrees, the disease is very limited in spreading from root to root. In addition, flying insects, such as beetles, which carry the disease have died from the harsh winter weather and will remain dormant until late spring. In addition, the trees are dormant and their transport systems for water and nutrition is minimal. All these factors lead to the perfect tree pruning condition.
If tree owners miss this window, the trees should not be touched until mid-June and July. March thru May is a trees peak time to replace old foliage and extend its growth in roots as well as branches of the canopy. We, the arborist, calls this the tender time. Unless a branch breaks, trees should be only pruned to help with proper nutrition delivery in their transportation system. If a tree owner decides to make a tree pruning cut an exterior covering should be applied to the entire wound within 15 to 30 seconds after the cut. This covering can be as simple as black spray paint. Just a helpful side note, pruning sealant with tar weakens the healing processes of the tree. It increases the tree’s healing process by three times as long.