Cities in Southern California may mandate trimming oak trees in the summer for a variety of reasons, including:
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- Fungal and pest infestation Pruning during the wrong time of year can increase the risk of fungal diseases like oak wilt, which can be fatal to oak trees. Oak wilt is most active from April to July.
- Root pathogensDuring the summer, root pathogens in the soil can attack oak roots if water is introduced to the root zone.
- Hazard reductionLarge oak trees can cause significant damage if they fail, so pruning to reduce hazards is often necessary. This can include removing large dead branches.
- Vehicular and pedestrian clearanceIf used as street trees, oaks may need to be pruned to ensure clearance for pedestrians and vehicles.
- Wind resistanceIf a tree’s roots are trimmed to allow for sidewalk repairs, the tree canopy may also need to be pruned to reduce wind resistance.
In general, it’s best to prune oak trees when they are dormant. Live oaks, which keep their leaves all year, are dormant from July to October, while deciduous oaks, which lose their leaves in the winter, should be pruned during the winter. Oaks can also be killed if they are severely pruned or topped.
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