People keep pruning oak trees in June around here and I don't get it

Driving through my neighborhood in Akron last week I saw three separate crews cutting live oak branches in the middle of summer. I know oak wilt is a real thing in this area. Is there some new training that says summer pruning is fine now or are these guys just ignoring the risk? How do you handle telling a homeowner their landscaper is doing damage without sounding like a jerk?

3 comments

3 Comments

juliawalker17d ago

Oh man, last summer I literally watched my neighbor's guy hacking away at a huge red oak in July and I almost jumped out of my car to yell stop. I actually did end up saying something later when I saw the owner outside, just kind of casually mentioned that oak wilt is super active in warm months and showed him a picture on my phone of what infected trees look like. He was actually grateful because he had no idea, had just hired some random crew off Facebook. The crew probably thought I was a crazy person but whatever. It's wild how many people still don't know about the April to October rule for oaks around here.

robin_campbell3620d ago

You mentioned "three separate crews cutting live oak branches in the middle of summer," and that honestly sounds like someone's running a discount oak-destroying special. I once told a neighbor their guy was doing damage and ended up having to explain why it wasn't just "my inner tree nerd" acting up. It's tough but maybe just say "hey, I've heard oak wilt spreads faster in warm weather" and leave it at that.

alice_harris3520d ago

Wait, did you actually get into it with a neighbor over tree stuff? That must've been awkward as hell but honestly you were probably right. Ngl I'd probably just nod and hope someone else says something.