It only matters if you have oak trees. The Texas A&M Extension Service recommends that you avoid pruning Oaks between February 15^th and June 15^th because open wounds attract a beetle that may vector Oak Wilt during that time. However, I would add to that statement to only avoid cosmetic pruning. If your tree has never been pruned it is very likely there are crossing, rubbing limbs that are causing an abrasive wound that can’t heal. Or you may have limbs rubbing on your roof that constantly get re-wounded when rubbing. Since the idea is to avoid open wounds during this time, I would argue that leaving an abrasive wound this is constantly re-wounded is worse than making a proper pruning cut to remove the abrasive limb and allow the limb to heal. Most pruning wounds stop sap flow within a few hours. If you are pruning trees other than oak the timing doesn't really matter.

The best way to diagnose Oak Wilt is by identifying a pattern of spread. But be careful! Oak Wilt is the most difficult tree disease to diagnose. The typical foliar symptom associated with Oak Wilt can be caused by many different ailments, many of which are not diseases at all. And a pattern of spread can be masked by prior treatments and trenches aimed at controlling the disease. Because the disease is so difficult to diagnose and causes so much damage we highly recommend you get the help of a professional if you think you have oak wilt.

It is our company policy that if we cannot make a positive diagnosis then the trees should not be treated right away, instead monitored for a year to look for disease spread. If you have Oak Wilt and are unsure, then waiting to see if the disease spreads will tell you for sure if your problem is Oak Wilt.

There is no "licensing" for tree service in Austin. But, we are insured and we have 4 certified arborists on staff. Our insurance includes general liability, workers comp, automobile and excess umbrella. We will gladly show you a copy if you choose to hire our services.

Very Carefully! Specifically we use tree climbing safety gear. Here is a basic list of the safety equipment:

1. Climbing rope: we throw this into the tree and then tie special knots that allow us to adjust the rope as we ascend and descend.
2. Climbing harness: we use a specially made saddle to attach safety ropes, pruning tools and wound dressing to.
3. Secondary positioning lanyard: this is a smaller length of rope attached to the side of the climbing harness to be used when the primary climbing line does not provide adequate protection against falling.
4. Prussic rope: this is a small length of rope used to tie "friction hitches" to the primary climbing line that allow us to adjust the length of the rope during ascent and descent.
5. Personal protective equipment: hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and ear plugs.

Very Carefully! We use ropes to lower heavy dangerous limbs or cut small pieces that are easy to handle and toss them into safe areas.

Most trees only need a thorough pruning every 3-5 years. However, the trees may need a small touch up pruning every 1-2 years depending on the tree’s condition and your personal expectations. We very commonly run into over-pruned trees. It is important to understand that more pruning does not equal healthier trees. Tree pruning and tree care should be done on a prescription basis. You should be objective and identify a need to prune.

This is not a black and white question. Look at it this way. If you do not have a healthy diet and you smoke your life expectancy will be shorter than if you eat healthy and take your vitamins. The same goes for your tree. A proper fertilization program will increase the life expectancy of your tree. Here’s another analogy for you to think about. If you eat junk food all year and then eat one healthy meal a year, that isn’t going to make you healthy. Fertilizing a tree once per year isn't likely to make the tree healthy. We recommend a regular program of timely fertilizations and regular inspections.

Yes, we have customers all over the Austin area. Just ask and we'll contact some of our customers who live close to your or who had a project that was very similar to yours. You can also read our reviews on City Search or Angie's List. We do not post references publicly to protect the privacy of our customers.