Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Prune young oak trees
• Method 2 of 2: Caring for mature oak trees
• Tips
• Warnings

Oak trees can be the prettiest trees around with their huge canopy and impressive branches, but it takes effort to keep an oak healthy and strong. An unkempt oak in the wild can be unhealthy and riddled with diseases that put the tree in danger of falling. To make sure your oaks stay strong and healthy, prune dead, diseased and unruly branches if necessary. Understanding the pruning process will make trimming the tree easy and fun. As a reward you will be left with a beautiful, healthy oak.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Prune young oak trees

1. Prune young oak trees between mid and late winter, or between January and March. Pruning the tree during the winter will help the wounds heal better by the spring.
   • Limits pruning to dead or broken branches only on newly planted trees.
   • Two or three years after planting, you can start pruning to determine the shape of the tree.
   • Get to know the growth habits of your specific type of oak tree.
2. Prepare the pruning equipment. Before pruning, soak the hedge trimmer and blade in 9 parts water and 1 part bleach. Then prune the material and let it air dry.
3. Choose a dominant branch. In order to obtain a healthy oak tree that provides beautiful shade, you must allow a dominant branch of the tree to develop. Watch your tree and look for the largest branches. There can be two or three branches that are large and equal in size. As the tree grows, these will all become dominant branches, weakening the tree.
   • Decide which branch appears most vertical and most central to the trunk and choose it to become the dominant branch.
   • Prune the other branches that could become dominant by limiting their size so that more sunlight can reach your chosen dominant branch.
   • Keep the dominant branch long.
4. Make cuts outside the branch collar. The branch collar is the swelling near the base of the branch where it begins to attach to the trunk. Pruning branches down to the branch collar will damage the trunk of the tree, affecting important tissues needed for growth.
   • Shorten long branches by cutting them back to a lateral branch or bud.
   • Always make cuts at an angle to encourage growth.
5. Keep the top of the tree full. Never remove more than a third of a tree's canopy in a season. The tree relies on a healthy canopy to create food from sunlight and develop healthy roots. This is especially important when the tree is still young.
6. Continue to prune every year to shape the tree. You should prune young trees annually so that they can grow healthily. Make sure the dominant branch is always the largest branch and prune large branches if necessary. Prune the branches that prevent your tree from getting the shape you want:
   • Dead, diseased or broken branches
   • Branches that cross or rub against other branches
   • Branches that grow inward
   • Branches that grow directly on other branches

Method 2 of 2: Caring for mature oak trees

1. Prune deliberately. Pruning branches on mature trees takes a lot of weight off the tree and can drastically change its shape, so it's important to think carefully about which branches to prune before you start cutting effectively. Branch pruning in mature trees should only be done for specific purposes:
   • Remove dead, diseased or broken branches
   • Remove branches to allow more sunlight or air circulation in the canopy of the tree. Be careful when doing this as it is not intended to "thin out" the canopy.
2. Cut the bottom end of large branches. Making a single cut in large branches can cause them to tear and pull pieces of bark as they fall down. Proper pruning ensures a healthy bark:
   • Make an incision under the branch about 12 to 24 inches from the outer edge or where it attaches to the trunk.
   • Make a second cut at the top of the branch a few inches beyond the cut at the bottom.
   • This prevents the branch from falling down and pulling bark off the trunk.
   • After most of the branch has fallen, cut what remains to within 12 to 12 inches by making the incisions at an angle 2.5 to 5 cm from the branch collar.
3. Let the tree heal the cut. After pruning the branches of your oak, you should leave the wound alone so that the tree can heal itself in the open air.
   • Prune carefully so you don't damage the tree unnecessarily and make sure the tree has enough water.
   • Trees will naturally seal incisions; there is no need to use an artificial seal as this can trap the microorganisms inside the tree, leading to disease.

Tips

• Use sharp, quality tools for pruning as this is the best way to ensure that your tree heals the wounds with ease. Old, blunt tools can unnecessarily pull on the fibers of the branch.
• Prune your tree between mid and late winter (January to March) for best results.
• Learn about your type of oak and the local climate before you start pruning. Consult your local library, nature center or nurseries to get more information.
• Properly pruning a sapling is the best way to ensure that you get a healthy oak tree later on that doesn't need a lot of pruning.

Warnings

• When pruning mature oak trees, limit yourself to the smaller, lower branches that need to be pruned. All branches that are high in the tree must be trimmed by a professional pruner.
• Read all directions for use of your pruning tools before using them to make sure you use them safely.
• Wear safety clothing such as gardening gloves, goggles and long sleeves when pruning an oak.