How to Trim Oak Trees

Co-authored by Matt Bowman

Last Updated: July 16, 2024 Fact Checked

Oak trees can be some of the most beautiful trees in the neighborhood with their huge canopies and branching limbs, but it takes work to keep an oak healthy and growing strong. An unkempt oak left to grow wildly can be unhealthy and full of disease making it in danger of falling. To ensure your oaks stays strong and healthy, pruning the dead, diseased, and unruly branches is necessary. Understanding the pruning process makes tree trimming an easy and fun task, and leaves you with a beautiful, healthy oak.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Pruning Young Oak Trees

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1
Prune young oaks in mid to late winter, or January through March. Trimming your tree during the winter months allows it to care for its wounds in spring when it will recover more quickly.^{[1]
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- Limit trimming only to dead or broken branches on newly planted trees.
- Two to three years after planting you can begin developmental trimming to shape the tree.
- Learn the growth habits of your particular type of oak tree
Before trimming, you’ll need to soak your clippers and saw blade with 9 parts water and 1 part bleach. Then rinse the tools off and let them air dry.^{[2]
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3
Establish a dominant leader branch. To create a healthy oak tree that create beautiful shade, you need to develop one dominant branch on the tree. Look at your tree and notice the largest branches. There maybe 2 or even 3 branches that are all large and a similar size to each other. As the tree grows, these will turn into multiple leaders and create a weaker tree.
- Decide which branch looks like it is the most vertical and centered on the trunk and choose that one to be the dominant leader.^{[3]
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- Trim the other branches that may turn into other leaders by reducing their size to allow more sunlight to reach the dominant leader you chose.
- Keep the dominant leader long.
4
Make cuts outside the branch collar. The branch collar is the swelling at the base of the branch where it begins to connect to the trunk. Trimming branches down to the branch collar will hurt the main trunk of the tree causing it damage to important tissues necessary for growth.
- Shorten large branches by cutting them back to a lateral branch or bud.
- Always make angled cuts to encourage growth
Never remove more that one third of the tree’s canopy in a single season. The tree depends on a healthy crown to create food from the sunlight and grow healthy roots in the ground. This is especially important when the tree is young.^{[4]
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Keep trimming each year to shape your tree. You need to prune young trees yearly to keep them growing healthily. Make sure the dominant leader is always the largest branch and trim back any large splits. Trim the branches that will prevent your tree from growing how you want it to, including dead, diseased, or broken branches, branches that cross over or rub other branches, and inward-growing branches.^{[5]
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- Damage doesn't necessarily indicate a disease—it could be due to a lightning strike, lack of sun, or even just that the branch got too heavy.^{[6]
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  Matt Bowman
  Gardener & Owner, Tradition Market & Garden
  
  Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}
- If you're not sure what may have caused damage to your oak tree, check the bark on the oak tree for white, flaky scaling that could indicate pests.^{[7]
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  Expert Source
  
  Matt Bowman
  Gardener & Owner, Tradition Market & Garden
  
  Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Caring for Mature Oak Trees

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1
Trim with a purpose. Pruning branches from mature trees takes a lot of weight off the tree and can change the shape drastically, so it is important to really think about which branches you are going to trim before you make the cut. Pruning branches from mature trees should only be done for specific purposes:^{[8]
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- Removing dead, diseased or broken branches
- Remove branches to create more sunlight or air flow to the canopy of the tree. Be careful doing this as you don’t want to “thin out” the canopy.
2
Cut the top and bottom of large branches. Making a single cut to large branches may cause them to tear off the tree and rip off the bark as they fall. Proper trimming ensures healthy bark:^{[9]
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- Make an undercut on the branch about 1 to 2 feet out from the branch collar, or the point where it connects to the trunk.
- Make a second cut on the top of the branch a few inches farther out that the undercut.
- This prevents the falling branch from tearing the bark off of the trunk.
- After the bulk of the branch falls, you can trim back the 1 to 2 feet the you left on the tree by cutting it at an angle 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) from the branch collar.
3
Allow the tree to heal the cut. After pruning the branches from your oak tree, leave the wound alone to let the tree heal itself in the open air.^{[10]
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- Prune carefully to not injure the tree excessively, and make sure the tree has plenty of water.
- Trees will naturally seal cuts; it is not necessary to apply an artificial sealant as this may trap microorganisms inside the tree and lead to disease.

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Question

What are signs that an oak tree branch is dead, diseased, or damaged?

Matt Bowman
Gardener & Owner, Tradition Market & Garden
Matt Bowman is a Gardener, Landscaper, the Owner of Georgia Farm to Table, and the Owner of Tradition Property Services in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 20 years experience, he specializes in organic gardening, landscape maintenance, handyman services, homecare services, and supplying Christmas trees. Matt earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Georgia.

Matt Bowman

Gardener & Owner, Tradition Market & Garden

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When should you trim an oak tree?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

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The winter is the best time to prune trees. The visibility is better when the leaves are gone and the tree will also recover and heal faster if pruned during the winter.

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Can I cut back an oak tree?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Yes, oak trees should be pruned regularly to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches and to thin out the canopy. Hire or consult a professional arborist before felling large branches. Remove 1/3 of the branches once a year or every several years.

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Tips

Successfully trimming a young tree is the best way to make sure you end up with a healthy mature oak that doesn’t need much pruning.

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Using high quality, sharp tools for your pruning is the best way to make sure your tree heals quickly from the cuts. Old, dull tools can cause unnecessary pulling on the fibers of the branch.

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Prune your tree in mid to late winter (January-March) for the best results.

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Warnings

Pruning mature oak trees at home is best kept to the smaller, lower branches that need pruning. Any branches up high in the tree should be left to a professional to cut.

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Read all instruction manuals for pruning tools before you use them to make sure you are using them safely.

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Wear safety items like gardening gloves, safety glasses, and long sleeves when trimming your oak tree.

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