MARQUETTE, MI (AP)-- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources advises you not to prune your oak trees in the next three months. That's because they will be particularly vulnerable to a deadly disease called oak wilt.
Red oaks often die within a few weeks of becoming infected. White oaks are more resistant.
Robert Heyd is pest management program manager for the Forest Resources Division. He says oak wilt tends to spread this time of year as beetles that move fungal spores from dead trees to healthy trees become more active.
Heyd says it's wise not to prune or otherwise injure the trees between April 15 and June 15 because the beetles plant oak wilt spores in the exposed spots.
Oak wilt has been detected in about half of Michigan's counties.
