| Oak Wilt Tree Removal |
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What is Oak Wilt? Well, it isn't a virus or ball moss but rather a fungus
(Ceratocystis fagacearum) that infects and grows in an oak tree. Simply, the
fungus clogs the tree's vascular (or vein) system and the tree slowly wilts and
dies without nutrition and water. Live oaks can die within one to three months
(though about 10% survive with various degrees of damage). Red oaks and
Spanish/Red hybrids usually do not survive the infection. (information obtained
from various sources).
The sign of Oak-Wilt infection in a red oak is wilting of the leaves (which
happens very quickly). The tree literally looks sick. An off season color change
in the leaves (to brown or brilliant color) could be another indication of the
fungus infection. In live oaks, there is a term called "veinal necrosis" where the
leaves are green but the veins are yellow or brown. This is not an absolute but
rather, a rule of thumb. There are other signs associated with live oaks and it is
suggested that you visit the City of Austin's Oak Wilt page or the Texas Forestry
page where links are provided below.
There is not a 100% effective cure for Oak-Wilt. While some treatments have
varying degrees of success, unfortunately infected trees can die or never fully
recover. Some infected trees survive on their own. There is no one authority on
oak wilt and opinions are changing.
You can protect your beautiful trees by painting pruning cuts and removing
infected or suspected trees (with proper identification). Oak wilt can spread
through the root systems of same specie trees where the roots have grafted to
each other. Oak-Wilt is estimated to move about 75 to 100 feet a year in this
manner though there is plenty of room for speculation.
(Ceratocystis fagacearum) that infects and grows in an oak tree. Simply, the
fungus clogs the tree's vascular (or vein) system and the tree slowly wilts and
dies without nutrition and water. Live oaks can die within one to three months
(though about 10% survive with various degrees of damage). Red oaks and
Spanish/Red hybrids usually do not survive the infection. (information obtained
from various sources).
The sign of Oak-Wilt infection in a red oak is wilting of the leaves (which
happens very quickly). The tree literally looks sick. An off season color change
in the leaves (to brown or brilliant color) could be another indication of the
fungus infection. In live oaks, there is a term called "veinal necrosis" where the
leaves are green but the veins are yellow or brown. This is not an absolute but
rather, a rule of thumb. There are other signs associated with live oaks and it is
suggested that you visit the City of Austin's Oak Wilt page or the Texas Forestry
page where links are provided below.
There is not a 100% effective cure for Oak-Wilt. While some treatments have
varying degrees of success, unfortunately infected trees can die or never fully
recover. Some infected trees survive on their own. There is no one authority on
oak wilt and opinions are changing.
You can protect your beautiful trees by painting pruning cuts and removing
infected or suspected trees (with proper identification). Oak wilt can spread
through the root systems of same specie trees where the roots have grafted to
each other. Oak-Wilt is estimated to move about 75 to 100 feet a year in this
manner though there is plenty of room for speculation.
| We can help with Oak Wilt identification, tree removal, trenching, chipping, or set up burn piles to remove the infected trees from your property and adjacent healthy trees. We also work with other professionals who apply nutrition based therapy to help strengthen the resistance of the trees adjacent to the oak wilt centers. Please see the following links for more information and some identification pictures of this potentially devestating disease. |
