Dead wooding Red Oaks

[mic687]

My first post here, been visiting and reading posts for some time now. My question is on dead wooding Red oaks before July here in Michigan. This can still open them up to Oak Wilt right. I know that even though a branch may be dead the base still has live wood present. Everything I have read reffers to prunning and I assume this relates to both live and dead branches for the reasons stated above.
Thanks Guys

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[TreEmergencyB]

i was told you could cut dead wood out of an oak anytime, but my mentor will not touch them at all, only in NOV-Feb he been ISA certified for a while and the best tree guy ive met yet so i would just wait. anyway its a good way to pile up winter work!



o yea welcome to the site

 

[tomtrees58]

Wait till feb tom trees

 

[TreEmergencyB]

Wait till feb tom trees

so you say just Feb or during the winter period

 

[mic687]

Thanks guys, the owner is willing to wait

 

[pdqdl]

No real point in waiting until winter. July is the typically recommended date for resuming trimming. The basis for not trimming oaks in the spring is so that the insects that spread the disease are not attracted to the tree you have injured.

If you are only deadwooding, then there will be no discernable injury. Most climbers, however, will cut branches out that get in the way, or do regular thinning while they are there. By the way, spur injuries are enough injury to attract the bugs.

Even if you did full trims in the spring, it's not bad for the tree; it is just a recommendation to avoid trimming in the spring. The beetles that are most responsible for transmitting the disease feed on sap from exposed wounds on the tree. They smell dinner from a long way off, and come visit the tree you just pruned, which is now leaking tasty juices.

If they bear the spores to the Oak wilt disease: oops. Your tree will die.