Things Needed
Tip
safe planning prevents many next problem with hot oaks . Consider the wide growth habit and giant sizing of these Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree before plant .
Warning
unrecorded oak outgrowth are deceivingly grueling — in fact , this is one of America ’s heaviest hardwood . A cut off subdivision could have hard injuries to anyone standing below it .
Pruning by householder can be practical for the first years of a live oak tree ’s growth . However , training bouncy oaks to strong flesh that fit the landscape ’s needs can require equipment and skill that non - professional rarely own . upkeep of ripe trees sometimes calls for climbing gear , chainsaws and maybe even boom lift .
Live Oak Pruning
Step 1
Avoid pruning this evergreen oak in outflow when the chance for fungal transmission is high . Even in the deep South , the best time of year for pruning will be tardy wintertime . Since oak wilt infects open wounding of hot oak tree diagram and is n’t treatable , practice a paintbrush to cover all pruning cut with pruning pigment immediately . Ordinary latex paint is not an satisfactory substitute .
Step 2
Keep pruning to a lower limit until the tree grows tall enough for limb to unmortgaged obstacle . Control any tendency for low , sideways growing or multiple tree trunk by clip back tree branch and unwanted vertical shoots to major leg collars or to the trunk . Live oaks develop with a spreading shape almost doubly as full as the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s height . From 65 to 85 feet mellow at maturity , large lively oaks can go about 150 feet in width . plant in yard , alive oaks must be discipline by pruning so that their ripe variant stay clear of buildings and vehicle dealings . Early pruning encourages vertical growth of a exclusive body .
Step 3
bump off crossed branches in the low story of the tree diagram and switch off back smaller , overhanging limbs — householder maintenance is normally limited to these task . usual forms for springy oaks are three or more high - spread limbs and a central leader . Upper stories of the tree diagram can be leave to a more innate increment .
Step 4
break up undesirable limb just before the branch collar , which is a raised ring of tissue at limb junction and the primary conjugation with the body . Using a pruning saw or chainsaw , undercut the arm to about one - third its diameter and then ascertain through from the top side . A good pruning cut should be unconditional , without splintering or tearing , and does not injure the branch collar . right pruning cuts play as much of a part in preventing infections as do pruning sealer . After pruning , use a paint skirmish and pruning sealer to track the tonic lesion .
Step 5
will the selection of the main branch to a professional arborist . Live oaks may require professional pruning every five years . bouncy oak offshoot become as large and heavy as many full - sized tree . As the limb grow outwards , the outgrowth will gradually arch downward before lifting up again toward open sky . A large branch stemming from a trunk at 20 feet from the ground could earn a edifice easily but douse to 15 feet as it gains distance and weight . Branches overhanging rooftop may lower until they touch the ceiling itself .
