Family-Outdoors

Aerial photograph of an oak wilt center (Photo credit: ) According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, it's time to stop pruning oaks in the Midwest where the weather has been abnormally warm. Typically, it is suggested that pruning can occur through March.  This year, not surprisingly, is a little different.  The primary cause for concern is oak wilt, a fungal disease that is easily introduced through wounds to the tree during the growing season.  Oak wilt is typically fatal to the tree within the growing year. More info on the disease can be found here .

Now is a good time for tree pruning, while temperatures remain cold, according Oak wilt infected oak leaf. DNR photo to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tree health experts. "The best time to prune trees in Wisconsin is during winter when a tree is dormant," said DNR Urban Forester Don Kissinger. This is because: Insects and diseases that attack open wounds on pruned trees aren't active in winter, and Without leaves on the trees it is easier to see and prune broken, cracked or hanging limbs. "Timing is especially critical when pruning oak trees," said Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist. DNR recommends no pruning, wounding, or cutting oak trees from April through July (through October to be extra cautious) to limit the spread of oak wilt, a fatal disease of oaks. Your municipality may have their own oak wilt ordinances that you should follow as well. To help reduce the spread of oak wilt another way, do not move firewood. "Several...