Stop painting pruning cuts before winter, here is why

I saw a crew last week wrap every oak cut they made with that black sealant spray. My old boss did the same thing until we lost 14 mature maples to the rot that bred under the paint. Sealing traps moisture against fresh wood and gives fungus a closed room to grow in. Let the cut air dry and callus on its own unless the tree is an elm or an oak in Dutch elm disease territory. Has anyone else had a client insist on the spray despite the arborist telling them otherwise?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_martin26d ago

Told a client straight up their warranty was void if they sealed the cuts. They backed off real quick. Sometimes you gotta make it about their wallet instead of the tree.

karen41025d ago

Warranty threats seem like overkill for a few buckets of sealant.