 metabolite allocation so why put that extra strain on them when they're working so hard anyway so the best times to avoid are spring when they're forming or fall and then with a live oak or other evergreen trees most of them are exchanging leaves in the spring so we like to avoid heavy pruning then so midsummer is fine when they're in the dormant in the winter is fine and then it depends on how much pruning if it's going to be an extensive pruning