Gonzales Master Gardeners
  • Home
    • About Us
    • The Buzz
    • What is a Texas Master Gardener?
    • Join Us >
      • Requirements
      • Class Schedule
      • Application
    • Announcements (Calendar)
    • Donations
    • Links >
      • Texas AgriLife Extension Service
      • Gonzales ISD
      • Texas Tree Identification
      • PLANT Answers
  • Programs
    • Children's Programs >
      • Eggleston Children's Garden >
        • Eggleston Children's Garden-What's Happening
      • 2nd Grade-PINS
    • Adult Programs >
      • Public Education >
        • Public Education-What's Happening
      • Master Gardener Training
      • Community Projects
    • Past Projects >
      • The Corn Patch Program
      • The Gourd Program
      • Black Walnut
      • 2nd Grade-Parts of a Plant
  • Plants We Like
    • Earthkind Plants
    • Annuals We Like
    • Bulbs and Tubers We Like
    • Herbs We Like
    • Perennials We Like
    • Shrubs We Like
    • Succulents We Like
    • Fruit and Nut Trees We Like >
      • Recommended Fruit Varieties
      • Fruit
      • Citrus
      • Nuts
    • Trees We Like >
      • Getting Trees Ready for Spring
      • Ornamental
      • Shade
    • Vegetables We Like
    • Vines We Like
  • Recipes We Like
  • Fun Stuff
    • Garden Adventures
    • Neat Science
    • Fun With Kids
  • Plant Sales
    • Tomato/Vegetable Sale
    • Spring Plant Sale
  • Location Maps
  • Newsletters

Pruning Your Oak Trees-Is it too Late?

(Submitted by Fran Saliger)

Oak wilt is an extremely serious fungal disease that attacks red oaks and live oaks across significant parts of our state.  The spread of the disease is mainly due to improper trimming and timing.

According Dr. Calvin Finch, retired Texas A&M horticulturist, there are a number of effective measures that can be taken to minimize the threat of oak wilt.
​
  • OAKS ARE SAFEST IF PRUNED IN THE WINTER OR LATE SUMMER. Any wound on an oak tree, when the bark beetle is active, is likely to get visited by the beetle. If the wound and the visit occur during the period of early February through May, when the fungus is also active, there is a chance that the tree will be inoculated with the disease. Prune unsafe branches as they occur.
  • COVER ALL WOUNDS ON OAKS WITH PRUNING PAINT. The period of susceptibility is very short, perhaps only three days after the wound occurs, but it is safest to get in the habit of covering the wounds. Remember that pruning is only one of the ways trees get wounded. Automobile bumps, lawn mowers, string trimmers, wind and ice breakage, and bulldozer damage on roots are other common examples of wounds.
  • MANAGE FIREWOOD TO AVOID INFECTION. It is not necessary to reduce the use of the fireplace in order to stop the spread of oak wilt. Smoke from infected wood burning is NOT a threat! The fungus is destroyed by heat and will not even survive in dry firewood. If you utilize red oak firewood, try to purchase wood from trees that have not been infected or killed from oak wilt. Only wood that has been cured for an entire summer should be stored in the vicinity of uninfected red or live oaks. If you bought oak firewood for this winter and are unsure of its age or origins, use it up before spring.
  • DIVERSIFY YOUR SHADE TREE PLANTINGS. Large blocks of red and live oaks are susceptible to the spread of the disease. Plant cedar elm, chinquapin oak, bur oak, Chinese pastiche, and bald cypress in addition to red and live oak. 

Consult https://plantanswers.com for more questions and answers about Oak Wilt.

Or https://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/OakWiltFAQS/