Oak Tree recently trimmed and not budding - Ask Extension
We live in Orono and had an oak tree trimmed in early 2023. The tree did not bud last year. We were told the tree may be in shock and recovering from ...
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Oak Tree recently trimmed and not budding #870356
Asked May 28, 2024, 7:45 AM EDT
We live in Orono and had an oak tree trimmed in early 2023. The tree did not bud last year. We were told the tree may be in shock and recovering from being trimmed and expected it to bud in 2024. It does not appear to be budding this year. Is it possible that the tree is dormant and will still recover? Is there anything we should do to support the tree? This is a very large oak that we would like to see survive. Thank you,
Tim
Mobile<personal data hidden>
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Your tree does not look good and you should have seen some leafing out by now. I don’t know who told you your tree was in shock but it should have leafed out last year too.
Spring is not a good time to prune oaks. Hopefully this pruning was done in January or February. The best time to prune them is in winter.
I would definitely have an arborist come out to look at it. It may have died of oak wilt.
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/oak-wilt-minnesota
