Expert: Jim Hyland - 6/20/2009

Question
I need to cut down some dead and dying jack pines in a small wooded patch near my home.  The pines are mixed in with several scrub oak that have grown to about 20-25 feet.  If some of branches to the scrub oak get damaged when I drop the pines will the oak trees survive if I prune the broken branches back?  Am I too late to be cutting them down now.  It's mid June in North Central Wisconsin.  I also plan on  using a wood chipper to dispose of most of the jack pine and spreading it around the wooded area floor.  Will this be ok or is the pine to acidic which would hurt rather than help the other trees?

Thanks you,
John

Answer
Go ahead and cut the pines. Dead trees or trees that you want to remove can be cut at any time during the year. Timing has to do with pruning trees. IF a branch on the oak trees get broken I would cut the whole branch off if it is still hanging to the break. If it breaks clean off I would do nothing. The pine chips will be fine under the oaks. Just do not pile it up on the tree trunks and you will be ok. There will not be a problem with the mulch being too acid for the oaks.