I cut a low hanging limb off

[lowell holmes]

of an oak tree. Do I need to coat the cut on the tree? If so, what should I coat it with?

[Devon Prescott]

I have cut about 40 of those in the last week (storms here) and I didn't coat any of them with anything.

TX A&M guidelines for tree wound care (https://agrilife.org/treecarekit/after-the-storm/tree-wounds/)
"Research indicates that wound dressings (materials such as tar or paint) do not prevent decay and may even interfere with wound closure. Wound dressings can have the following detrimental effects:


Prevent drying and encourage fungal growth
Interfere with formation of wound wood or callus tissue
Inhibit compartmentalization
Possibly serve as a food source for pathogens

For these reasons, applying wound dressings is not recommended. Trees, like many organisms, have their own mechanisms to deter the spread of decay organisms, insects and disease."

When I graft a tree I DO cover the area with melted beeswax. But big cuts in a healthy tree- no paint not tars - works for me.

[Bruce Page]

Lowell, do not use a pruning sealer when you cut tree branches. Sealers can trap moisture that can cause decay. Trees will naturally seal off wounds after pruning.

[Doug Dawson]

Lowell, do not use a pruning sealer when you cut tree branches. Sealers can trap moisture that can cause decay. Trees will naturally seal off wounds after pruning.

That is not quite true with oak trees in Texas, where there is commonly the oak wilt. In fact, this is not a good time to trim them at all. Fall and early winter is preferable.

See https://preservationtree.com/blog/when-to-prune-oak-trees-its-oak-wilt-season

[Ole Anderson]

Devon and Bruce are correct and so is Doug. Normally you do not want to use wound dressing on cut branches for the reasons stated. IMO, trimming oak trees in the wrong season would be the one exception to that rule. Better a little local rot than oak wilt. But you have to do it immediately after trimming, while the wound is still fresh and before the beetles find it. Here in Michigan the no-trim window is April 15 to July 15. Different in Texas. https://preservationtree.com/blog/when-to-prune-oak-trees-its-oak-wilt-season That article also states it is ok to trim dead branches under 2" any time. Most hardware stores carry spray on would dressing. The one on my shelf is Spectricide Pruning Seal. I have an oak tree that needed some low branches removed late summer.

[Tom Giacomo]

Here in Pa. it's against the law to trim oak trees this time of year because of the wilt disease.

[Doug Dawson]

Devon and Bruce are correct and so is Doug. Normally you do not want to use wound dressing on cut branches for the reasons stated. IMO, trimming oak trees in the wrong season would be the one exception to that rule. Better a little local rot than oak wilt. But you have to do it immediately after trimming, while the wound is still fresh and before the beetles find it. Here in Michigan the no-trim window is April 15 to July 15. Different in Texas. https://preservationtree.com/blog/when-to-prune-oak-trees-its-oak-wilt-season That article also states it is ok to trim dead branches under 2" any time. Most hardware stores carry spray on would dressing. The one on my shelf is Spectricide Pruning Seal. I have an oak tree that needed some low branches removed late summer.

It's amazing how efficient insects are at finding their hosts. You can plant a Dutchman's Pipe vine and the appropriate butterflies will find it, even though there are no other such for miles around. Monarchs will find the milkweed. The Gulf Fritillary will find the passion vine. Nature is in control. (But not always, I just wish we had more bees.)

So, in that context, I would be concerned about pruning oak trees in the season of their ruinous pests, no matter what else you do.

[lowell holmes]

It was a dead branch that I cut off close to the trunk. I have done it before without issue.