That old arborist told me to stop pruning oaks in summer - I should have listened

Old timer named Bill at the local tree supply shop warned me about oak wilt back in June, but I figured I knew better with my new chainsaw and all. Lost three big red oaks on a job in Springfield after I trimmed them during a heat wave, cost me around $4000 in removal fees and ticked off the homeowner. Anyone else learn the hard way that summer pruning is a bad call with oaks?

3 comments

3 Comments

lauras8317d ago

Read something about oak wilt spreading faster in summer heat.

the_piper2d ago

3 trees gone in one job? That's a $4000 lesson in why we should listen to the old guys who've been at it for 30 years. I swear the same goes for everything in life, like ignoring your grandma's warning not to run with scissors because you think you're faster than gravity.

phoenix_thompson417d ago

Yeah @lauras83 is right on the money there. The heat actually makes the fungus that causes oak wilt way more active, so any fresh cut in summer is basically an open door for it. Ive seen it happen to a few guys who thought they could get away with just a quick trim on a hot day. Once that beetle picks up the spores from an infected tree and lands on your fresh cut, youre toast within weeks. Your old arborist friend was probably trying to save you that exact headache.