Don't Trim Your Oak Trees Marietta, Not Yet At Least

MARIETTA, OH — This is Memorial Day weekend, and while it may be the perfect time to do some yard work, there is some you should avoid. Namely trimming trees. You should not trim your trees right now.

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Ken Morrison is the head of the Marietta Tree Commission. He said people should really know about the dangers of trimming trees in the summer. “There is a fungus that is passed on by a bug, that’s called oak wilt.” Oak wilt is a disease passed to wounded oak trees in the early spring to mid-summer. It’s been spreading in Ohio and in some situations, killing oak trees in mass. When you trim a tree during the spring or summer, that releases sap, sap draws bugs, that bug might have the disease. “Stops the flow of sap, kills the tree.” It’s been seen more and more in our area, Morrison said the solution is really pretty simple. “Wait until the leaves fall off the tree to trim it.” All oaks are susceptible.

An arborist with Davey.com said that folks should avoid pruning their oaks and elms in the late spring and early summer. They say there are methods to cut down on the likelihood of infection.

Many trees are susceptible to diseases and bugs, check with the city tree commission if you have any questions about how to better care for your trees. Ann Bonner is an arborist on the Marietta Tree Commission, you can email her or call her office at 614-670-2630.

Ann.bonner@dnr.state.oh.us

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