An old forester told me I was pruning oaks wrong for 10 years

I used to always prune oaks in late winter like most people do. Then this old timer at the saw shop said I was asking for oak wilt by cutting during the sap flow. He told me to wait until July or August when the beetles that spread it are less active. I thought he was full of it at first lol. But I tried it on a big job out in Eugene last summer and honestly the trees looked way healthier after. Now I'm on the fence about whether to switch all my oak pruning to summer or keep doing it the old way. What's your take on this does timing really matter that much or is it just old wives tale stuff?

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karen_perry383mo ago

That old timer was right about oak wilt, I switched to summer pruning years ago and never looked back.

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kai_butler833mo ago

Preach, @karen_perry38 - less heartbreak that way.

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