The 18 month oak I pruned finally showed the change I was after

I thinned out a massive live oak in a client's yard in Austin back in spring 2022, and yesterday I drove by and saw the canopy is finally letting enough light through for their St. Augustine to fill in underneath. Has anyone else seen a gap closure take way longer than you expected on a mature tree?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_holly4d ago

Did you try thinning the lower branches too?

rodriguez.diana4d ago

Oh man, that is so relatable. I've had oaks take a full two years to show real improvement after a good thinning. What I learned the hard way is you gotta get in there and really open up those interior crossing branches too, not just the big stuff. On a mature live oak those thick limbs can block more light than you'd think. Also don't be shy about pulling out a few of those super low, droopy branches that cast deep shade right at ground level. It feels aggressive but the grass will thank you for it once the light finally hits that soil.