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.
Oak wilt kills an oak as quickly as 3 weeks to 6 months. The cost per tree for the fungicide treatment is roughly $15 per inch of tree diameter measured at chest height.
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.
Once an Oak has Oak Wilt there is no cure, no matter what anyone tells you. You may be able to slow the decline down for a bit by treating it with the fungicide Propiconazole but eventually the tree will succumb to the fungus. Propiconazole is a very strong fungicide and is used more as a preventative than a treatment.
On average, the cost of tree disease treatment ranges from $200 to $2,200+. Costs vary depending on the size and scope of your project and the equipment used. Arbor Works will provide you an exact quote for your unique project after the on-site consultation with a professional arborist.
This is known as “reactive” tree removal, and it is sometimes covered by most insurance policies. However, homeowners insurance may not cover the cost of removing a tree that has not yet fallen, but is diseased and likely to fall soon. This “preventative” tree removal is not typically covered by insurance policies.
Diseased Trees
An infected tree can spread disease to other trees and plants in the area, causing significant damage. If you notice signs of disease, such as dead branches, discolored leaves, or fungus growing on the trunk, it's time to remove the tree before it causes any more damage.
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.
For this step to be successful, several “healthy” oaks surrounding the pocket of wilting or dead oaks usually need to be sacrificed because they likely already have oak wilt in their root systems. The treatment boundary installation usually occurs from August through early winter, depending on the method used.
Trees in the red oak group generally die rapidly, usually within weeks or months after infection. Treatment will not save an infected red oak. Trees in the White oak subgenus, such as Burr oak and Chinkapin oak, can generally be treated for oak wilt and will recover within a year of treatment.
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.
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.
Vertical cracks, seams, dead branch stubs and large, older wounds suggest internal decay. Severe damage to the main trunk often warrants removal of the tree. If the damaged area is less than 25 percent of the circumference of the trunk, the wound could gradually heal over and no permanent injury should result.
Cutting down a tree with oak wilt that is still partially alive can cause the disease to spread, but removing it during the least vulnerable months can prevent this.
An average cost of treatment is approximately $11.00 per DBH. Dose rate of formulation and cost are determined by your tree's diameter at breast height (DBH). Starting at 4½' up from the base of the tree, measure the circumference of the tree's trunk in inches with a measuring tape.
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.
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.
If your tree is leafing out really late, it's obviously stressed. But most trees die from a combination of stressors, not just one thing,” Courtney Blevins, a TFS forester in Fort Worth, said. “If your tree is dead, there's no rush to take it down. That's one big mistake people are making.
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.
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.
Saving a dying oak tree requires a combination of knowledge, dedication, and professional support. By recognizing the signs of decline, identifying the underlying causes, and implementing targeted treatments, you can give your oak tree the best chance at recovery.
First, leaves turn dull green or bronze, can appear water-soaked, and wilt.
Spread Mulch Around Your Tree
Adding mulch around the base of the tree is a great way to nourish the soil and help prevent fungal disease, regulate soil temperatures, help with drainage, and restore the tree's overall health.
Arborists believe that if you get your trees removed in the winter as opposed to the spring or summer, you can save as much as 30% to 40% on the cost. This is something to consider when you realize that cutting down your tree can cost thousands of dollars depending on its size, location, and overall condition.