Parshall Tree Care Experts is urging homeowners and property managers in the Grand Traverse region to follow Traverse City’s summer oak‑pruning ban and recent Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guidance warning against pruning oak trees during the high‑risk oak wilt period. The company is aligning its Tree Care recommendations with both local ordinance and statewide forest health advice to help reduce the spread of oak wilt in residential and urban areas.
In an April 13, 2026 release titled “Put that saw down! Delay pruning oaks until mid‑July,” the Michigan DNR advised homeowners and landowners not to trim or prune oak trees from April 15 through July 15 because sap‑feeding beetles can carry oak wilt fungus from infected trees to fresh pruning wounds. Michigan State University Extension similarly notes that fresh pruning wounds attract these beetles and states that avoiding pruning oaks from April 15–July 15 is critical to preventing new infections. The DNR’s forest health program further emphasizes that oak wilt can quickly kill healthy red oaks and damage white oaks, and that avoiding pruning during this period is a key prevention. Learn more at https://markets.financialcontent.com/1discountbrokerage/article/pressadvantage-2026-4-2-parshall-tree-care-experts-hemlock-trees-may-be-quietly-dying-michigan-dnr-issues-spring-treatment-alert.
Traverse City’s code of ordinances goes even further, prohibiting pruning oaks from April through November “to protect oak trees and help prevent oak wilt disease,” making the local restriction stricter than the statewide minimum guidance. This means many routine Tree Care activities that might involve oak pruning are legally restricted for much of the growing season within city limits. Parshall Tree Care Experts is using this season to inform residents about why the ban exists and how proper timing of pruning fits into long‑term, science‑based tree care planning.
Oak wilt prevention is closely tied to professional pruning standards. The ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards, developed and approved by the American National Standards Institute, serve as the U.S. benchmark for professional tree pruning and Tree Care operations, outlining how and where cuts should be made and limiting live canopy removal to protect tree health. Guidance based on these standards explains that topping, flush cuts, and removal of more than 25 percent of live canopy in a single season are practices that can harm trees and shorten their lifespan, whereas properly placed cuts at the branch collar support healthy wound closure and structural stability. Aligning local Tree Care work with these standards is one way homeowners can reduce avoidable stress on oaks already facing disease pressure from oak wilt.
Independent consumer guidance documents also underscore the value of involving trained professionals in Tree Care decisions. The TreesAreGood “Why Hire an Arborist” brochure, published in partnership with the International Society of Arboriculture, notes that ISA Certified Arborists have demonstrated knowledge in tree biology, diagnosis, maintenance practices, and safety, and that their training is intended to support long‑term tree health and risk reduction. Ohio State University Extension similarly advises that tree work, especially hazardous or technical operations, should only be performed by trained Tree Care professionals equipped to work safely in and around trees, and that arborists can provide tree‑risk assessment and recommendations that help manage safety concerns while preserving tree health where possible.
Recent extreme weather in northern Michigan has added urgency to these Tree Care questions. The Michigan DNR has reported that successive late‑winter and early‑spring storms have left many trees with bowed branches, split trunks, and broken limbs, and has urged residents not to rush into cleanup with chainsaws, particularly when trees are large, damaged, or located near structures or utility lines. In this context, residents may feel pressure to address storm‑damaged oaks immediately, but state and local guidance indicates that, where safety allows, oak salvage and cleanup should be postponed until after the April 15–July 15 high‑risk period to reduce the chance of oak wilt
For situations where immediate action is necessary to protect people or property, Tree Care work often involves complex rigging and equipment. One Traverse City homeowner, Matt Comer Google Review, described his recent experience with a hazardous tree near his home:
“We had a tree very close to smashing our deck. Parshall came out the very next day and had to setup a crane to reach over the house and support the tree. They removed it with out further damage. Excellent job. All the wood and branches where removed from the site , cleaned the area of all saw shavings, it is like they where never here. I would not trust this job to anyone else. I highly recommend them.”
Extension guidance notes that large or compromised trees near buildings or utilities present elevated risks and that such Tree Care work should be handled by professionals with appropriate training, insurance, and equipment rather than by untrained individuals.
Parshall Tree Care Experts states that its current recommendations for oak tree care in Traverse City are consistent with the combination of Michigan DNR advisories, MSU Extension research, ANSI A300 standards, and the city’s oak‑pruning ordinance. Residents are encouraged to consult authoritative state and university resources when planning tree care work, to avoid pruning oaks during the high‑risk infection window, and to seek qualified arborist guidance when trees pose potential safety hazards. Read more at https://parshalltreecare.com.
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For more information about Parshall Tree Care Experts, contact the company here:
Parshall Tree Care Experts
Corey Parshall
231-409-1295
info@parshalltreecare.com
Parshall Tree Care Experts
202 S Union St #215
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: (231) 409-1295
Email: info@parshalltreecare.com
