2
My uncle told me to always cut a big oak in winter, but a summer job changed my mind.
My uncle, a retired arborist, drilled it into me for years. He said winter is the only safe time for major cuts on mature oaks, like the 80-foot white oak in a client's yard in Springfield. He was worried about oak wilt and said the trees are asleep then. But last July, we had an emergency call for that same oak after a storm split a huge limb over a garage. We had to take it down. I was nervous, but we sealed every cut with pruning paint right away and cleaned our tools with bleach between cuts. The tree is doing great now, no sign of disease. It made me think, maybe the 'only in winter' rule is too strict if you're super careful about sanitation. Has anyone else done a big oak removal in summer with good results?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
sage3081mo ago
Totally get where you're coming from. Your story shows the old rules need some room for real world problems. I've had to do a few summer cuts on oaks after storm damage too. The key is acting fast and being crazy clean, just like you did. It's more about stopping the bugs that spread disease than the exact calendar date. If a tree is a real danger, waiting months for winter isn't always an option. Your success proves that good, careful work can beat a strict seasonal rule sometimes.
8
skyler_jackson271mo ago
What's your go-to sealant after a risky cut like sage308 described?
9