These are 2 very large pin oaks. Trunk diameter 21/2 feet. I just want a few very small limbs that hange over the street loppered. I will try to post a pic.

Yes, photos really help our experts provide more solid recommendation. I’m not really sure what you mean when you say an msu arborist ?? can you explain who that is?

Not that it’s relevant to my question, but by msu arborist I am referring to my tree trimmer, Jim Gordon who graduated from msu in 1989 as an arborist. He thought it was ok to trim by lopper a few small branches of my pin oak, that were being hit by passing trucks, but he asked me to get an opinion from msu, as we are both very concerned about oak wilt. This was my attempt to do that. 

Good morning — the reason I asked about who the msu arborist was is that I was wondering if it was one of our volunteer master gardeners or one of our staff. Sorry, from my perspective I just needed to know.  Wonderful that you found an arborist with an msu connection!

I’ll sign your question to one of our tree experts. They may or may not ask for some photos.

Best wishes,

Hello David,

The answer is normally NO. (See my notes below for some exceptions)

Based on the MSUE article: Avoid oak wilt by not pruning oak trees April-October at the link below:

Avoid oak wilt by not pruning oak trees April-October - Gardening in Michigan

Information from the article:

 

Avoid infecting valuable oak trees with the lethal oak wilt disease by not pruning from April to October.

Homeowners can reduce the risk of oak wilt infections by not pruning or otherwise injuring oaks after April 1. While the risk of infection decreases to low risk after mid-July, it’s prudent to simply avoid pruning oak trees from just prior to bud break to leaf drop. This means April to October.
In some years, spring comes much earlier. If daytime temperatures begin to reach the 50-degree Fahrenheit mark, stop pruning oak at that time, even if it is still the middle of March.

Trees that must be pruned now, for reasons of storm damage or otherwise, should be immediately treated with a tree wound dressing or latex-based paint to seal the wound. It is very important that the fresh wounds be treated immediately because the insects that carry spores of the pathogen are often attracted to these wounds within a very short time. Tree paints are normally not recommended for general use, but using these products in this situation can protect trees from oak wilt. 

You can consider your situation a safety concern. Immediately treated with a tree wound dressing or latex-based paint to seal the wound.

Oaks in the red oak group – black, northern red, northern pin and others with pointed leaf edges – are most easily infected by this disease. Oaks in the white oak group – white, swamp white, bur and others with rounded leaf edges- are less susceptible.

I hope this helps!