Some oak trees are very annoying to garden owners if they are already old, tall and gnarled. Whether you can cut it back depends on the size and age of the oak. For very large trees you need a permit.
Can you prune an oak tree and when is the best time to do it?
Oak trees can be pruned depending on age and size, although a permit is required for large trees. The best time for pruning is in spring. Young oaks tolerate pruning well, older trees should be pruned by specialist companies.
Requirements for pruning oak trees
Whether you are allowed to prune an oak tree depends on how old the tree is and whether it is listed in the municipality's development plan or tree protection statute. Paragraph 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act stipulates that it isprohibited“Trees that stand outside the forest, short rotation plantations or areas used for gardening, hedges, living fences, bushes and other woody plants in the periodto cut off from March 1st to September 30th, to put on the stick or to eliminate; Gentle shape and care cuts are permitted to eliminate plant growth or to maintain the he alth of trees.” (BNatSchG, §39)
If you prune such a tree without a permit, you may have to pay hefty fines.
You can cut back young oak trees yourself to thin them out, shape them and remove excess branches.
The best time to prune oak trees
If you want to prune your oak tree, it is best to do this in early spring.
Since the oak is about to sprout at this time, it has high cell activity and can therefore heal more quickly. In addition, the reserve substances are largely stored in the trunk and strong branches. If the oak is pruned moderately in spring (10-15%, maximum 25%), it retains these reserve substances for the formation of buds and shoots.
Cutting young oak trees into shape
Young oak trees generally tolerate pruning well.
To be cut:
- Thin branches on the lower trunk
- Dead branches in the crown
- Crosswise growing branches
- Sick and rotten branches
- Branches with fungal infestation
Make sure that you make the cut on the branch and without damaging the bark list or the branch collar. The cut must be straight and clean. It is essential to avoid fraying. Using a wound balm (€11.00 on Amazon) is not necessary as trees - especially oaks - seal off wounds themselves. If you still want to use a balm, apply it thinly to the edges of the wound to protect the cambium from drying out.
Don't crop too much
Pruning oak trees promotes the development of new shoots. If you cut the tree back too much, this can cause long-term damage to the tree and lead to repeated problems.
Have old oak trees cut by a specialist company
Old oak trees tend to produce a lot of dead wood. Dead branches pose a danger to passers-by and buildings. They must therefore be removed.
For very old trees, you should hire a specialist company to do the pruning. Such companies have the necessary aids such as extendable ladders and climbing aids. The employees are also trained in pruning oak trees.
You can also instruct the company to obtain permission for pruning from the municipality.
Tip
You should under no circumstances cover large wounds caused by cutting back thick branches with pond liner or anything else. This procedure is outdated and it is now known that such materials create an ideal microclimate for the formation of fungi and can therefore lead to infections and rot.
