The information in this response is specific to Texas and may or may not apply to your area.

The answer to your question concerning pruning oaks is yes, BUT:

First, how can you be sure that you have painted all the wounds? If you miss just 10 percent of the tree wounds in a city block or even several very large live oaks, then hundreds of possible infections might result.

Second and more importantly, although experts disagree as to which is a better time to prune from a physiological standpoint, either during dormancy or well after full leaf expansion, all of them agree that pruning during the time from bud break to shortly after full leaf expansion is detrimental to tree health. In other words, even if we didn't have an oak wilt problem, no one should be pruning in the spring.

The recommended Feb. 1 to June 1 prohibition on wounding is for the entire state of Texas. Obviously, San Antonio will not have to adhere to the May portion when it's already 90 degrees here and Dallas can slide into March because it's generally still in the dormant season during February. Moreover, if the entire 15-week period is used, then that is still less than 30 percent of the year.