Oaks may be among the most beautiful trees in the neighborhood thanks to their huge fronds and branches, but they take a lot of effort to stay healthy and grow strong. A neglected oak, left to grow spontaneously can get sick, with the risk of even falling. To make sure your plant stays healthy and robust, it's important to prune dry, diseased and sprawling branches as needed. If you learn the pruning process, the job can be easier and more fun, while at the same time achieving a beautiful and lush oak.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prune a Young Oak
Step 1. Cut the young plant in mid or late winter, January through March
If you cut it in these winter months, the incisions can heal in the spring, when the plant is able to recover faster.
- When the tree is still young, limit yourself to cutting only the dead or broken branches.
- Two or three years after planting it, you can start pruning it more massively, to give it a precise shape.
- Know how to grow the specific type of oak you are planting.
Step 2. Find a main branch
To have a healthy oak that will make a nice shade, you need to choose a main branch from which to develop the tree; look at it and find the branch that seems bigger to you. There may be two or three that are of a similar size and width. As the oak grows, these branches may become dominant in turn, weakening the structure of the tree.
- Determine which branch looks more vertical and central to the trunk and choose the one that looks like it will become the dominant.
- Cut off any other branches that you don't want to play an important role in the tree to reduce their size and provide more sunlight to the one you have chosen.
- Grow the dominant branch.
Step 3. Make cuts on the outside of the branch collar
The collar is the bulge found at the base of the branch, where it connects to the trunk. If you cut the branches below this structure, you injure the main trunk and cause damage to the important and essential tissues for the development of the plant.
- Shorten large branches by cutting them down to the side or bud.
- Remember that the incisions must always be diagonal to encourage growth.
Step 4. Keep the crown of the tree bushy
Never cut more than a third of the fronds in a single season. The tree needs a healthy crown to transform solar energy into nourishment and thus develop an efficient root system. This detail is especially important when the tree is still young.
Step 5. Continue to prune the plant every year to give it the shape you want
You have to cut the young oak every year to make sure it grows healthy. Make sure the main branch is always the widest and cut all other large branches. Also eliminate those that prevent the oak from growing as you wish, for example:
- Dry, diseased or broken branches;
- Those that cross or create friction on other branches;
- Those that grow inward;
- Those that grow directly above the others.
Part 2 of 2: Caring for an Adult Oak
Step 1. Prune by following a set plan
When you cut the branches of a mature tree, you take a lot of weight off the tree and drastically change its shape. For these reasons you need to think seriously about which branches you want to delete before starting. Prune an adult oak only if:
- You need to remove dead, diseased or broken branches;
- You must remove the branches to ensure greater air circulation or sun exposure to the rest of the canopy. Be careful not to over-thin the fronds.
Step 2. Cut the top and base of the large branches
If you make a single cut, the branch could tear from the trunk and tear apart some of the bark during the fall. A good pruning technique guarantees you a healthy bark:
- Make the lower cut on the branch 30 to 60 cm from the collar, where it connects to the trunk.
- Make a second incision at the end of the branch, a few inches from the first.
- This way you are sure that the branch does not tear the bark from the trunk when it falls.
- Once the major portion of the branch has been detached, you can then cut the last 30-60cm stump protruding from the collar.
Step 3. Let the cut heal
After pruning the branches according to your plan, allow the incisions to heal in the open air.
- Prune very carefully so as not to unnecessarily injure the oak and remember to water it abundantly.
- Trees are able to "heal" wounds naturally; you must not apply any artificial sealant which could trap microorganisms inside the oak and cause disease.
Advice
- Properly pruning a young oak is the best way to get a healthy, mature tree that doesn't need major maintenance.
- Always use high-quality, well-sharpened tools to make sure cuts heal quickly. Old or dull tools cause excessive traction on the branch fibers.
- Learn about local oak species and assess the climate before pruning. Go to the library, a nursery or a natural oasis for more information.
- Cut the tree in the second half of winter (from January to March) to get good results.
Warnings
-
The pruning of oaks, like all other trees, is a job that requires a high degree of expertise and professionalism, if you do not want to cause serious damage to the tree itself or to any objects in its vicinity. It also requires the use of a series of handling and safety equipment which, in addition to having high costs, require a certain experience to be used correctly. For all these reasons it is advisable to contact a professional arborist. However, in the case of small trees it is possible to do the job yourself, provided you follow a series of guidelines to safeguard the health of the tree. In this regard, some excellent instructions for a correct pruning are available on the website of the Italian Society of Arboriculture, in the section "The indispensable". However, if you do not use aerial platforms or the tree climbing technique, it is strongly not recommended to work at heights higher than two meters from the ground, especially if you are using a chainsaw.
