Dear Whispering Oaks neighbors,
We are barraged with quick-buck solicitations to trim our oak trees, especially prior to City brush collections.
Most of the tree trimmers are not cutting just dead limbs and removing ball moss, they are indiscriminately cutting healthy growth and leaving hundreds of wounds unpainted per yard! The massive removal of live growth causes the sprouting of unsightly suckers up and down the once sleek tree trunks, but worse yet are the wounds they leave unpainted and vulnerable to devastating oak wilt disease.
The Texas Forest Service, in their Oak Wilt pamphlet, recommends, "avoid pruning from February 1 to June 1." (San Antonio office 208-9306)
The San Antonio City Code specifies that "all wounds...shall be painted within 30 minutes of the wound...." (City Code, Section 21-170 below)
BEFORE YOU HIRE ASK TO SEE THE TREE CUTTER'S "TREE MAINTENANCE LICENSE"!
(City Code, Section 21-171 below)
Whispering Oaks greatest assets are the oaks! Don't let just anyone cut your trees! Below is a copy of the San Antonio City Code regarding Oak Wilt and the licensing of tree cutters. At the bottom are instructions for you to find this code online:
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ARTICLE VIII. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF THE SPREAD OF OAK WILT
Sec. 21-170. General requirements.
(a) The provisions of this section apply to any person, firm, corporation, business entity, city department, public or private utility to the extent permitted by law.
(b) All wounds to the trunk, limbs and root system of oak trees in the city that expose sapwood shall be painted within thirty minutes of the wound with asphaltic or exterior oil or latex based paint.
(c) Firewood from oak wilt infected trees shall not be brought into the city at anytime.
(Ord. No. 97332, § 18, 3-13-03)
Sec. 21-171. Tree maintenance license.
It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating, or removing trees for profit without first applying for and procuring a tree maintenance license. A tree maintenance license shall require proof of continuing education credits at a minimum of four (4) hours per three-year licensing period before the license is issued, provided however, the initial issuance of a license shall be for a period of one (1) year to allow the applicant to obtain the necessary continuing education credits. The license shall be valid for three (3) years and the fee shall be paid in advance. No license shall be required of any employee of a public utility or the city.
(Ord. No. 97332, § 18, 3-13-03)
Violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor offense and shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the first offense and a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than ($500.00) for the second offense.
(Ord. No. 97332, § 18, 3-13-03)
Secs. 21-173--21-199. Reserved.
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Here is how to find it online:
2. On the Official Website of the City of San Antonio page hold the arrow over the Government link at the top of the page and scroll to the 2nd listing, City Council Agenda. Move the arrow right and down to the 3rd link, City Code.
4. You should now be on a page titled Municode.com. On the left side of the page find Part II, scroll down and click on Chapter 21 Offences and Miscellaneous
Click on Article VIII Prevention and Control of the Spread of Oak Wilt
Click on Section 21-171 Tree Maintenance License
