Can we talk about pruning paint on oak trees in warm weather

I used to think pruning paint was a must for every oak cut I made. Then a forester in North Carolina told me I was actually trapping moisture and bacteria against the wound. He showed me how the paint can crack in the heat and create a perfect home for oak wilt fungus. I stopped using it on cuts under 6 inches after 3 months of watching painted cuts rot faster than unpainted ones. Now I only seal giant limb removals over 8 inches wide in winter. Has anyone else seen better healing without paint on their oak trees?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair_gibson7813d ago

That bit about checking under the paint after a summer rain really got me. I actually did that on a big limb cut last August. Peeled it back and found black slime and little bugs living in there. The wood underneath was soft like wet cardboard. I felt awful for making that wound worse for the tree. Now I leave everything under 6 inches bare and just shape the cut right.

emmam3217d ago

Is this really that big of a deal for regular homeowners? I've used pruning paint on my oaks for years and never noticed any rot issues.

milac3717d ago

Point out the size of cuts you’re painting. If you’re just sealing off a 2 inch branch, you probably won’t see rot because the wound is small enough to dry out on its own anyway. But those bigger cuts on a main limb, especially in warm weather, that’s where I’ve watched paint trap moisture and turn the wound black and mushy within a few months. Have you checked under the paint on your biggest cuts after a summer rain? I’d be curious what you find if you peel it back when it’s hot out.