Kansas City Tree Care: We’ll Stop Pruning Oaks and Elms On April 1

tree pruning services

Our Certified Arborists Serving the Metro Area Explain Why

Tree pruning is a necessary part of tree care, but in some cases, it can do more harm than good. Tree arborists near you know the ins and outs of how to care for trees on your Kansas City-area property, which is why we should be the first phone call you make when you need to address a problem with them.

That’s why we’ve come to realize it’s necessary to stop pruning oak trees and American elm trees effective April 1. Let us explain.

Fungal Diseases Affecting Trees

Two very serious fungal diseases can actually be spread through pruning: oak wilt and Dutch elm disease. Insects carry the fungal infection, and when pruning the trees where these insects live, they fly away to other trees, thereby infecting them.

With these insects active in the spring, it’s best to not do anything that could disturb them or cause infestations in other healthy trees nearby.

What is Oak Wilt?

Oak trees are most susceptible to infection with oak wilt from April to July. Oak wilt is an exotic fungal disease that is fatal for all species in the red oak group - oak trees with pointy-tipped leaves, and for some in the white oak group - those with round-tipped leaves.

The earliest sign of oak wilt is leaf discoloration, with rapid wilting and defoliation, starting from the top down. With large, upper branches generally the first to be affected, your tree is at risk of dropping the heaviest limbs from very high up.

Once an oak stand is infected with sap-feeding beetles and spore mats, the disease spreads underground through roots until the tree is dead, sometimes taking only a few weeks.

What is Dutch Elm Disease?

Dutch elm disease is also caused by a fungus, spread by elm bark beetles when they feed and through root grafts. If left untreated, it causes wilt and death in several elm tree species within the season or within years. Affected species include the American elm, red or slippery elm, or rock elm. Asian elms tend to be more resistant to the disease, but can still be infected.

Your tree may be infected with Dutch elm disease if leaves in the outer crown of the tree wilt and turn brown. You may also notice fallen leaves in your lawn during summer. Wilting and discoloration progress toward the trunk of the tree.

Note that Dutch elm disease does not only affect the Dutch elm hybrid, but rather all elm trees. It got its name because it was originally identified in the Netherlands.

How to Tell If Your Tree is Infected

Look for the signs and symptoms of either disease, starting at the crown, or top of your tree, at the outer edges of the branches. Get a higher perspective from inside your home on the upper level. You can also grab a pair of binoculars to spot the early signs of either disease. Discoloration and bare patches are likely the easiest of the symptoms to spot.

If you have an oak tree, look for fungal spores on the bark of your oak tree, which are brown, almost hairy mats.

What If My Oak or Elm Tree Is Severely Damaged?

If your oak or elm tree poses a danger to buildings, humans, or pets, it is understandable that you’d need the help of a certified arborist from Arb Tech, even after we stop cutting or pruning these trees on April 1.

In these instances, contact us so we can assess the issue using our years of experience and expert training. Attempting to cut down or prune a severely damaged tree can be dangerous and is best left to the professionals.

Scheduling Tree Pruning and Other Tree Care Services

Should you need tree pruning, particularly for your oaks or elms, contact Arb Tech well before April 1 to get onto our schedule. We’ll send a team member out to assess your tree and determine the type of care it needs to remain strong and healthy.

Should you worry your elm tree could become infected with Dutch elm disease, Arb Tech may be able to administer a preventative fungicide injection that blocks the spread of the fungal pathogen via beetle feeding, although the injections are less effective when a tree is potentially infected through root grafts. This treatment may need to be repeated every one to three years. Only a certified arborist can perform fungicide injections.

Contact Arb Tech for Kansas City Tree Care

Arb Tech makes it easy to schedule an appointment for tree care. Pick one of these easy options:

We look forward to helping you take care of your trees!

Dallas Stephens