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And here in Delaware, we have very little leaf changes as of yet. Almost boring here. We are usually about 2 -3 weeks behind Long Island so maybe the next couple of weeks will change things.
We had 45 inches of precip in 2017
We had 68 inches of precip in 2018
We got 41 inches already so far this yr
So Its Been Wet... These things are growing like crazy. Rings are gonna be huge for past 3 yrs.
A neighbor said I have to prune them. I say just let nature take its course. I have been pruning the lower branches because they droop so close to the ground.
A neighbor said I have to prune them. I say just let nature take its course. I have been pruning the lower branches because they droop so close to the ground.
Just remember to only prune oak trees when they are dormant--late fall to late winter. Oak wilt disease is becoming prevalent in a lot of areas and any open wounds to oak trees during the growing season can make them more susceptible to oak wilt disease.
Last edited by jackmichigan; 08-14-2019 at 09:14 AM..
Reason: typo
Just remember to only prune oak trees when there are dormant--late fall to late winter. Oak wilt disease is becoming prevalent in a lot of areas and any open wounds to oak trees during the growing season can make them more susceptible to oak wilt disease.
This is important and I ascribe to the less is more school myself. I cut away the dead branches and anything that crisscrosses and rubs on another branch.
Looks to me as the trunk growth needs to catch up to the branches! I can understand what your neighbor is visualizing when he commented that the tree needs to be pruned. I’m also seeing a top heavy tree over branched tree that only nature can correct and rebalance!
I pruned a couple lower branches again, yes even in Summer/Early Fall... It's Fine! Always been. When wind takes out a branch, does the tree get diseased or die?
Anyway -- Growing grass under the Oaks is a constant challenge. 1. Water. 2. Sunlight. 3. Soil Nutrients
I pruned a couple lower branches again, yes even in Summer/Early Fall... It's Fine! Always been. When wind takes out a branch, does the tree get diseased or die?
If the wounds attract beetles carrying the oak wilt spores, then the answer is "yes". Of course, this doesn't mean that all wounds will attract the sap beetles, nor does it mean that, if attracted, they will be carrying the spores...but the primary way that oak wilt disease is spread is by the beetles which are attracted to fresh wounds on oak trees. If oak wilt disease infects a tree, it can easily spread to nearby trees, even infecting them if the roots of the trees touch. This could easily wipe out wide swaths of oak trees. That's why it's wise to take precautions. Better safe than sorry.
Looks like you need to keep trimming, get your canopy to be around 16-18’ from the ground. Very nice though. My family planted 2200 oaks, black walnut, ash and cypress on our farm in 1988.
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