Finally, I'd like to note that chainsaws do not transfer oak wilt and are self-sterilizing on account of the operating temperature exceeding the temperature that the fungus can live in.
Disrupting the connections between the roots of infected and healthy trees limits the spread of oak wilt and is an effective control measure. Infected trees and their roots will usually die before root grafts can be re-established.
What to do if your tree has oak wilt - If your oak tree has been diagnosed with oak wilt, have it removed ASAP to stop the disease from spreading. Once the tree has been cut down, have all of the roots around the tree severed so the disease cannot pass to neighboring trees.
Spread through Roots
Infection centers among live oaks in Texas expand at an average rate of 75 ft per year, varying from no spread to 150 ft in any one direction.
White oaks can be treated with propiconazole once they display early symptoms of oak wilt.
In areas where nearby trees have oak wilt, arborists can control its spread to surrounding oak trees. As early as August, they can start by creating a barrier line by cutting the roots of infected trees, which may come in contact with healthy tree roots.
Firewood from unknown origins should be burned during the winter months. If possible, do not store it to the next season. (Note: Burning firewood with oak wilt spores does not spread the fungus! Fungal spores burn, too.
How much does treatment cost? Fungicide treatments are based on the diameter of the tree and therefore vary quite a bit. The average tree costs about $250 to treat once. However, there are discounts available for larger projects.
If there is concern that a red oak may have been infected with oak wilt, then its wood should be immediately burned, buried, or chipped. Fire will kill oak wilt, and there is no risk of spores being transported by smoke.
First, leaves turn dull green or bronze, can appear water-soaked, and wilt.
Pruning between April 15 and July 15 should be strictly avoided because this is when beetle activity and viable spores are most prevalent across the landscape. If pruning an oak is absolutely necessary during this time, wounds should be immediately sealed with pruning sealer or water-based paint to prevent infection.
Maintenance pruning your oak trees should be done between November 1 and March 31. This is the SAFE period to prune them. It is recommended to avoid pruning any oak trees throughout the growing season which is April 1 - November 1.
Disease Characteristics
Oak wilt is identifiable by the rapid pattern of wilting starting from the top of the tree and progressively dying down to the bottom, and on specific leaves, wilting from the edges to the base.
Oak wilt has been identified in over 20 states. Once an oak tree is infected with the oak wilt fungus, the tree will die and there is no treatment to save the tree. When an oak wilt infection is confirmed treatment can be applied to the surrounding trees to prevent the spread of this disease.
Oak Wilt Treatment
Healthy oak trees can be treated using the fungicide Propiconazole 14.3 to prevent lethal infection by oak wilt disease. This is easily conducted using Chemjet® Tree Injectors to inject the fungicide into small drilled holes at multiple locations around the base of the tree.
Live oak (Q. fusiformis) is a member of the white oak group and is the most common and abundant oak in central Texas. While live oaks succumb to oak wilt in the greatest numbers, they are intermediate in susceptibility to the disease with a small percentage (< 20%) surviving infection.
To stop the spread of oak wilt through the root system, trenches can be placed around a group of trees, at least 100 feet away from the dripline of infected trees and at least four feet deep, or deeper, to sever all root connections.
Dying Oak Tree Solutions
Taking swift action to identify, treat, and get professional help for your tree significantly increases the chances of saving it. Ignoring the signs of a declining tree leaves it vulnerable to infestations, infections, and structural problems that will lead to its rapid decline and death.
The disease is a particularly serious problem for species in the red oak group such as northern red, northern pin and black oaks. Once wilting symptoms are apparent on a red oak, the infected tree will lose most of its leaves and die within approximately one month.
You can easily treat against infection and death of trees by oak wilt using DIY trunk injection of the fungicide Propiconazole 14.3 using reloadable Chemjet® Tree Injectors. The procedure is as follows for trees that have not yet been infected (indicated by leaves turning brown or falling off prematurely during summer.
Propiconazole is the only fungicide scientifically tested and proven effective (when properly applied prior to infection) for use as a preventative treatment to protect live oaks.
The most notable indicator of the presence of oak decline is deterioration of the canopy. Additionally, unlike oak wilt, trees affected by oak decline tend to retain their leaves, even after their death, and the leaves do not reflect the same patterns of necrosis that leaves of trees affected by oak wilt display.
Finally, I'd like to note that chainsaws do not transfer oak wilt and are self-sterilizing on account of the operating temperature exceeding the temperature that the fungus can live in.
Biology & Symptoms:
Trees in this group completely defoliate and die within three to six weeks after initial wilt symptoms occur. Some oaks, including live oaks, develop brown veins in their leaves, although green tissue remains. Early symptoms are wilting, bronzing, and shedding of leaves at the ends of branches.
Sugar maple, 24 BTUs per cord. White oak, 24 BTUs per cord. White ash, 23.6 BTUs per cord. Yellow birch, 21.8 BTUs per cord.