| "When is the best time to prune trees?'' This is | | | | The only concerns we have in Austin, Texas for |
| one of the most common questions I get asked. | | | | when to prune trees is geared specifically around |
| The truth is there aren't many timing concerns | | | | one tree disease, oak wilt. There is one beetle |
| for tree pruning in the Austin area. Let's start with | | | | known to spread the disease and it is active for |
| the most common mistake I hear people make | | | | only a few weeks during the spring. The timing of |
| about when to prune trees in Austin, Texas. | | | | activity varies from year to year but is generally |
| You cannot adapt rules from other climates to | | | | always between March and May. The Texas |
| Austin. If you go to the north east part of the | | | | Forest Service recommends you avoid wounding |
| country there are important guidelines. There, | | | | trees during this time. Their adoption of this |
| dormant season is long and the trees are much | | | | abstention period is based on concerns for |
| taller. This means that bigger trees have less time | | | | homeowners to understand and remember |
| to get all their growth cycles done. During the | | | | intricacies of the disease spread. If you are |
| spring and fall months, trees in these northern | | | | working with a professional who makes proper |
| areas have intense sap flows. Pruning during these | | | | cuts and treats wounds, there is no risk of |
| times will lead to bleeding wounds which leads to | | | | disease spread through pruning wounds. |
| every insect and disease in the book. In Austin | | | | In conclusion, the answer of "when to prune trees |
| we don't have this problem. Our seasons tend to | | | | in Austin, Texas" can be answered by two |
| run together; you can prune any time and not get | | | | sentences: If you hire a professional, |
| bleeding wounds. Except with American Elms, | | | | knowledgeable arborist, you can prune any time. |
| these trees will produce bleeding wounds | | | | If you are doing the pruning yourself, avoid |
| regardless of when you prune them. | | | | pruning between March and May. |