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Things You Should Know About Oak Wilt

Big Oak Tree — Fenton, MO — Baumann Tree

Oak trees are a beautiful addition to your Missouri home, but they are more prone to a serious disease this time of year. Oak wilt disease is highly prevalent in Missouri. If you don't take precautions to care for and protect your oak trees, you could end up most, if not all, of them. Discover more information about oak wilt, its symptoms, and prevention so you can take steps to keep your oak trees healthy.

What Is Oak Wilt?

Oak wilt is an infectious fungal disease that attacks your trees' water-conducting system. It primarily enters through cuts and wounds or through grafted roots with an infected tree. When wounded, the sap attracts insects that bring the fungus from other infected trees.

While any oak is a potential victim, the black oak family is the most susceptible. The most sensitive member of this family is the red oak. Red oaks tend to graft roots with other close-by red oaks. So, when the infection affects one, it spreads quickly through the root system if not detached.

White oaks are more resistant, but they may succumb to the disease after a long period of infection.

What Are Signs of Oak Wilt?

The earliest signs of oak wilt are dying-off or discoloration of the leaves and branches in the crown. In red oaks, infections often spread fast, and you will see severe deterioration within a few weeks. Red oaks die quickly, while other species may take up to a year. White oaks may take much longer to show symptoms.

Another sign of oak wilt is spore mats and pressure pads. You can usually find these mats on the trunk, and they usually appear when your tree is near death. Spore mats can also occur on oak firewood. These mats emit a sweet scent that attracts insects such as the sap beetle.

How Does Oak Wilt Spread?

Besides spreading through the root system, oak wilt also spreads from insects transporting the fungus. When an oak has an open wound, its sap rushes out to heal it. This wound attracts insects like the previously mentioned sap beetle. These beetles find the sap quickly and will often have found your tree before you notice the injury.

How Can One Protect Trees from Oak Wilt?

To reduce your tree's chance of oak wilt, don't trim them between April or July or when you have stretches of summer rain. The trees are the most active at this time and more likely to give a defensive response to injury. Trim your oak trees during dormant times in the late fall and winter.

Protect your trees from accidental injury from gardening tools and equipment. Check your trees for wounds often. If you see any wounds, even small ones, seal them up as soon as possible. Then, keep an eye out for any signs of infection.

Can One Save a Tree With Oak Wilt?

Unfortunately, no cure exists for oak wilt. If confirmed for the disease, the tree will die. However, you can protect nearby trees through special fungicide treatments. You or an arborist can also sever any possible root grafts with other trees.

Do not try to remove the tree while it is still alive. When you try to remove a live infected tree, you increase the chance of fungal spore release. Remove the tree once it is fully dead. Dispose of the wood properly to eliminate spore transmission.

Oak wilt disease is a serious disease that can potentially cause problems for all the oak trees on your property or even your neighborhood. Before you assume your tree has oak wilt disease and needs removal, contact an arborist for an assessment. Baumann Tree can check over your oak trees and determine a course of action. Call us today, and we will send over someone to check over your tree.

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