If your tree needed to be supported in the first place (few trees require staking), it is suggested that all staking material be removed after one year. However, if the tree feels sturdy, then you could remove it at any time. Improper staking can actually damage a tree.

In consideration of the borers that spread oak wilt, it's best to prune trees in the winter, in your area. Call your local extension office to verify that, however.

Is there a reason why you think it needs pruning? Are you trying to get it to grow as a bush or long stemmed standard? If it's only 2 years old and you just want a natural looking tree you could leave it alone until you can see its character a bit more.

Actually, the very best time to prune out defects in a tree is when it is very young. Many trees can use all the help we can give them to develop proper scaffolding, so to speak; a good solid infrastructure that will allow them live to a ripe old age without problems.

I don't think that I've ever had a tree installed that didn't require a bit of pruning.

If more growers tended to this kind of pruning at the nursery, homeowners wouldn't get stuck with co-dominant leaders, narrow crotches with included bark, etc. Trees with such structural defects die earlier than they need to.

However, that's the ONLY kind of pruning that should be done on a young tree.

I have 2 trees, one is sucking up all the water and looks way too bushy. I was reading that in the summer or winter, when the beetles are low, is a good time to prune. Do the pruned spots need to be treated?

Summer is not a good time to prune in your location, due to the beetle issue. However, if you feel like you need to do a LITTLE thinning then you certainly may do so. However, you will need to use a pruning paint on the wounds. It is ONLY to protect a tree against the likely invasion of wood boring beetles that pruning paints are EVER used, however!!! At any other time, or if your tree species is not in jeapardy, or if you live in a location where some of these insects are not a problem....do NOT use anything to cover the wounds.

The best time to prune Oaks is when they are dormant and they should not be pruned after the sap starts to run.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tree Pruning

An excellent site on pruning. Worth the read BEFORE you prune.
Worth noting the change of thought on covering over wounds. Research has shown wound dressing is not normally needed on pruning cuts. However, if wounds need to be covered to prevent insect transmission of certain diseases such as oak wilt, use latex rather than oil-based paint.

I guess the thought now is that sealing the wound may in fact seal in disease.

Good Luck,
Gumby_CT

Wound dressing for trees has been taboo for many years. It may not necessarily seal IN pathogens, but may (in fact) slow the self-'healing' process that trees have already established for themselves. At the very least, it does nothing to protect trees from injury, with the exception of what I (we) discussed earlier.