Bee Cave City Council approved changes to its tree trimming ordinance for residents as oak wilt season begins in Central Texas.
The details
Recent policy changes approved March 10 clarify that single-family residents are not required to get a city permit for tree trimming, but do not change rules prohibiting trimming from February to June.
The rule update still requires business owners to get a permit from the city in order to trim trees, according to city documents.
“This does not change anything for … tree trimming businesses or landscapers. Those industries are still required to get permits, again because they can go from property to property,” Assistant City Manager Christopher Baker said. “This is just to exclude individual property owners trimming their own trees on their own property.”
The why
Oak wilt is a destructive tree disease that is widespread in Central Texas, killing millions of oak trees every year, according to Texas Oak Wilt. Oak wilt is most prevalent from Feb. 1-June 30.
The infectious disease is caused by a fungus that invades and disables the water-conducting system in oak trees. Oak wilt can spread above ground and below ground through roots, insects and open wounds on trees, Baker said.
If oak trees are damaged in any way at any time of year, it is important to immediately paint any cut on the oak tree to avoid the potential spread of oak wilt, according to city information.
“If you want to see the effects of oak wilt, right after you go through Fredericksburg, the whole area there is decimated,” council member Andrea Willott said. “I don’t think a lot of people know what oak wilt is, and they really need to see it—it is tragic.”
Signs of oak wilt include leaf discoloration, premature leaf drop and rapid decline, according to the city.
