Preventing Oak Wilt

 It’s out there! A disease called Oak Wilt affects all trees in the Oak (Quercus) family.  

A common mistake that homeowners make with Oak Trees is to prune or damage the tree’s outer bark, but wait! There is a right time and a wrong time to prune Oaks. Although it may seem counterintuitive, the outer bark should not be pruned or damaged to prevent infection. 

To keep Oaks healthy, pruning or changes to the tree should only be made when in a dormant state. It is best to hold off until no leaves are present. Between late fall and early spring are the best times to prune Oaks. So, hold off on all pruning while leaves are present.