Old timer told me to stop pruning oaks in summer. I didn't listen.

A guy with 40 years in the biz told me at a job in Nashville last July to never cut oaks when it's hot. I figured he was just being old school and kept trimming a big red oak during a heat wave. Within 2 weeks, oak wilt showed up and I had to remove the whole tree. Lost a $1,200 client because of it. Anyone else learn this lesson the hard way?

2 comments

2 Comments

terry_carter1516h ago

Used to think it was just old guys being dramatic until I saw a neighbor's oak die the same way. Pretty humbling to watch a healthy tree drop dead from a summer cut. Definitely changed my mind about pushing back on advice from people who've been doing this longer than I've been alive.

avery_lopez14h ago

Humbling is the right word @terry_carter15. Watched a buddy lose a huge maple he trimmed in July, it was gone by spring. Old heads definitely earned that wisdom.