--- title: Best Time of the Year to Trim Oak & Elm Trees description: When is the best time of the year to trim oak and elm trees? image: https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hubfs/shutterstock_265958351.jpg --- # Best Time of the Year to Trim Oak & Elm Trees Aug 25, 2016 9:46:01 AM --- ![shutterstock_265958351.jpg](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_265958351.jpg?width=395&name=shutterstock_265958351.jpg) The beloved Oak & the notable Elm, slow growing, long lived, and their silhouettes breathtakingly majestic but...  these masterpieces come with nasty little secrets!   Our oaks & elms are susceptible to a couple of awful diseases called [Oak Wilt](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/news/oak-wilt-what-it-is-and-how-to-spot-it) & [Dutch ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/news/what-is-dutch-elm-disease-how-can-you-spot-it)[Elm Disease](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/news/what-is-dutch-elm-disease-how-can-you-spot-it).  The oaks & elms are particularly vulnerable when they have been trimmed before their dormant season or have sustained damage. ![shutterstock_463171757.jpg](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_463171757.jpg?width=398&name=shutterstock_463171757.jpg)   The reason for this is: when a non-dormant oak or elm tree has been trimmed or cut, the tree bleeds sap.  Just like us but sweeter!   The sweet wetness of the sap attracts tiny beetles that carry the fungal spores they picked up from other infected trees, dead logs, rotting vegetables, and other debris, and deposits the spores into an open wound!   Thus the disease spores have entered the tree, almost like the way our open wounds or cuts get infected! Then, the bad part- the trees active sap stream carries the spores throughout the tree.  Branches begin to dye within months, and if the infestations are severe enough, even a mature oak or elm tree may be dead within two years! The time to trim your oaks & elms are when the trees are dormant.  Generally this is between October and February.  The logic behind this being that if the sap is not running in the tree because it is dormant, the beetle is inactive due to dormancy and is not interested in the cuts!  Call a professional and only prune when the tree is dormant to eliminate the spread of this vicious fungus before we lose all of our beloved [old oak trees](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/news/how-do-declining-oak-populations-affect-the-community) and our [gorgeous elms](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/news/study-suggests-cloning-elm-trees-to-protect-them-from-extinction-due-to-dutch-elm-disease) in Kansas City.       ![0758073.jpg](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/hubfs/0758073.jpg?width=259&name=0758073.jpg)                                 ![download-7.jpg](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/hs-fs/hubfs/download-7.jpg?width=200&name=download-7.jpg)   [![Free Quote for your Oaks & Elms! Click Here ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/507305/92f2ca58-9cf3-4d0f-9521-e27ecc58f8fb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/507305/92f2ca58-9cf3-4d0f-9521-e27ecc58f8fb) [Tree Maintenance](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/topic/tree-maintenance) ##### Like it? Share it: [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/best-time-of-the-year-to-trim-oak-and-elm-trees) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/best-time-of-the-year-to-trim-oak-and-elm-trees) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/best-time-of-the-year-to-trim-oak-and-elm-trees) ### You may also like [Resistance to Dutch Elm Disease May Be Within the American Elm Population ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/resistance-to-dutch-elm-disease-may-be-within-the-american-elm-population) ##### [Resistance to Dutch Elm Disease May Be Within the American Elm Population](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/resistance-to-dutch-elm-disease-may-be-within-the-american-elm-population) 10 May, 2011 Two scientists from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have possibly found the genes for resistance to D... [Read this article](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/resistance-to-dutch-elm-disease-may-be-within-the-american-elm-population) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/resistance-to-dutch-elm-disease-may-be-within-the-american-elm-population) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/resistance-to-dutch-elm-disease-may-be-within-the-american-elm-population) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/resistance-to-dutch-elm-disease-may-be-within-the-american-elm-population) [Study Suggests Cloning Elm Trees to Protect Them From Extinction Due to Dutch Elm Disease ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/study-suggests-cloning-elm-trees-to-protect-them-from-extinction-due-to-dutch-elm-disease) ##### [Study Suggests Cloning Elm Trees to Protect Them From Extinction Due to Dutch Elm Disease](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/study-suggests-cloning-elm-trees-to-protect-them-from-extinction-due-to-dutch-elm-disease) 10 April, 2012 We've discussed Dutch elm disease quite a few times in the past, as it is a tree disease that is rather common in the Ka... [Read this article](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/study-suggests-cloning-elm-trees-to-protect-them-from-extinction-due-to-dutch-elm-disease) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/study-suggests-cloning-elm-trees-to-protect-them-from-extinction-due-to-dutch-elm-disease) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/study-suggests-cloning-elm-trees-to-protect-them-from-extinction-due-to-dutch-elm-disease) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/study-suggests-cloning-elm-trees-to-protect-them-from-extinction-due-to-dutch-elm-disease) [Tips for Dealing With Storm Damaged Trees ](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-storm-damaged-trees-2) ##### [Tips for Dealing With Storm Damaged Trees](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-storm-damaged-trees-2) 25 January, 2012 With stormy weather recently affecting nearby states such as Arkansas, we thought it would be an appropriate time to rem... [Read this article](https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-storm-damaged-trees-2) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-storm-damaged-trees-2) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-storm-damaged-trees-2) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cartwrighttree.com/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-storm-damaged-trees-2)