Tree & Shrub Planting and Care in Austin, TX

Quick answer

Tree care in Austin means following Texas A&M Forest Service oak wilt guidance: avoid pruning or wounding oaks from February through June and paint fresh oak wounds right away. Inside Austin city limits, removing a tree 19 inches or more in diameter requires a permit. Plant natives in fall, dig wide, mulch and water through establishment.

Last updated October 22, 2026

Trees are one of the most valuable parts of an Austin landscape. Shade cuts summer heat on the house and the yard, and many neighborhoods are defined by their live oaks and cedar elms. Caring for them here means knowing two local issues: oak wilt, and the city's tree protection rules.

Oak wilt and pruning timing

Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease of oaks in Central Texas. Texas A&M Forest Service advises avoiding pruning or wounding oaks from February through June, when the beetles that spread the fungus are most active, and painting every fresh oak wound immediately, any time of year. Red oaks are the most susceptible, live oaks are intermediate, and white oaks are least susceptible but not immune. Any company that prunes oaks in spring without a safety reason, or skips wound paint, is not following that guidance. Mowers and string trimmers can wound trunks too, which is one more reason to mulch around trees instead of running turf to the bark.

Tree protection rules

Inside the City of Austin, a permit is required to remove a protected tree, defined as 19 inches or more in diameter measured four and a half feet above the ground. Heritage trees, 24 inches or more and of listed species including all oaks, pecan and cedar elm, have stricter rules. The City Arborist program handles permits. Other cities in the area, including Dripping Springs, have their own tree rules, and HOAs may add more. Check before removing or heavily pruning a large tree.

Planting trees and shrubs

Pick the right species. Native and adapted trees and shrubs handle heat, drought and alkaline soil better. The City of Austin's Grow Green guide lists options.
Plant in fall when you can. Roots grow through mild winters before the first summer.
Dig wide, not deep. Set the root flare at or slightly above grade. On rocky lots, a wide planting area matters more than a deep hole.
Don't backfill clay with pure compost. AgriLife warns that a hole of loose amendment in dense clay can fill with water and drown roots.
Mulch a few inches deep, kept off the trunk.
Water through establishment, often more than one summer for trees. Austin's watering rules have allowed watering trees with soaker hoses, tree bags or bubblers outside normal sprinkler days.

Shrub replacement

Many older Austin foundation plantings use shrubs now on the city's invasive list, like berrying nandina and ligustrum. Replacing them with native or adapted shrubs is a common project. If you live with deer, ask for plants deer tend to avoid and protect new plantings until they're established.

Wildfire-aware planting

In wooded and Hill Country areas, keep the space right around the house lean: no dense shrubs or dead material against walls, low branches limbed up, and plants well watered or spaced apart. Austin has adopted a Wildland-Urban Interface code that includes defensible space requirements in mapped areas.

Questions to ask

Do you follow Texas A&M Forest Service oak wilt guidance on pruning timing and wound paint?
Is a certified arborist involved for large trees?
Do I need a city permit for this removal?
Can you provide a certificate of insurance?

When you're ready, request a tree and shrub company.

Frequently asked questions

When should I prune oak trees in Austin?

Texas A&M Forest Service says the best times are during summer heat or winter cold, and to avoid pruning from February through June except for safety. Paint every fresh oak wound immediately.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Austin?

Inside city limits, yes for protected trees 19 inches or more in diameter at four and a half feet high, with stricter rules for heritage trees of listed species. Other cities and HOAs have their own rules.

What shrubs should I replace in an older Austin yard?

The City of Austin lists berrying nandina, ligustrum (privet) and chinaberry among invasive plants to avoid. Many older foundation plantings use them, and native or adapted shrubs from the Grow Green guide are common replacements.

Sources and further reading

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