When to Prune Oak Trees in the Texas Hill Country (and Avoid Oak Wilt)
Timing your oak pruning right is the single biggest thing you can do to protect your trees from oak wilt. Here is the window we recommend across Dripping Springs and the Hill Country.
Why oak pruning timing matters
Oak wilt is the most destructive tree disease in central Texas, and the sap-feeding beetles that spread it are most active in spring and early summer. A fresh pruning cut on a live oak or red oak during that window is an open invitation.
The safe pruning window
For live oaks and red oaks in Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and Driftwood, we prune between July and late January — avoiding February through June whenever possible.
- July – January: safest window
- February – June: prune only for storm damage or safety, and seal every cut immediately
Always seal oak cuts
No matter the season, paint every oak pruning wound within minutes using a wound dressing or even latex paint. Beetles can find a fresh cut in under an hour.
When to call a pro
If you have large limbs over a roof, signs of cankers, or a tree that has not been pruned in years, a certified crew can take the weight off safely without overpruning. We service Dripping Springs, Wimberley, Driftwood, Bee Cave, and the surrounding Hill Country.