Hello,

Leaves are down; temperatures are cooler, so it’s prime time for pruning oak trees, which the oak wilt fungus can infect if they’re pruned during the high-risk period of April 15 to July 15.

“Beetles that can carry the disease from tree to tree are not very active now, and the trees are not vulnerable to infection,” said Simeon Wright, forest health specialist with the DNR Forest Resources Division. The beetles are attracted to fresh bark damage or wounds where tree limbs have been removed.

Oak wilt also spreads when firewood from infected trees is moved to new locations. If you cut wood from an oak tree that might have died from oak wilt, cover the wood with a plastic tarp and bury the tarp’s edges underground to prevent access by the beetles that spread the disease. Ensure the tarp remains intact for six to 12 months until the bark sloughs off. This will kill the fungus and prevent its spread to healthy trees.

Tree trimming around structures, limb removal, and even construction or clearing that can damage oak trees should be planned outside of the oak wilt susceptibility period.

Waiting for winter ensures trees are dormant, so they won’t respond to new growth late in the season, which makes them more vulnerable to winter injury.

To see the complete State of Michigan article, please go to this link:

Prune oak trees in winter to avoid oak wilt

Additional References at the below links:

Oak wilt prevention starts now - Landscaping

Protect your oak trees; prune before spring

I hope this helps!