Kids at Bouncy House

Oak Wilt Information

For more information contact LCNA Oak Wilt Committee Chair Jennifer Lamm Please contact by email, not phone.

Current disease centers in Lost Creek — as designated by Texas Forestry Service

Oak wilt disease centers are in red on map:

What you can do

  • Prune trees properly
    • Prune only in the hottest summer months of July/August.
    • Seal all pruning cuts immediately and insist on watching tree trimmers do this.
      • Pruning seal or latex spray paint works well.
    • Sanitize all trimming equipment BEFORE starting work and insist on watching tree trimmers do this. Lysol disinfectant is an effective sanitizer
  • Red Oak infection
    • Contact Texas forestry ASAP and remove tree properly.
  • Live Oak infestation
    • Do it yourself treatment
    • Arborist treatment
  • Plant Oak wilt resistant trees.
  • Educate neighbors on all of the above

Signs of oak wilt

If you suspect oak wilt contact a certified arborist. http://www.texasoakwilt.org/Vendors/vendor.php

Red Oaks — note that stems are no longer green on these leaves.

Wilting leaves turn pale green or brown over entire tree.

There is a state cost share program for removal of oak wilt diseased red oaks.

Live oaks — veinal necrosis — yellowing or darkening of the veins of the leaves.

Tree will tend to thin in the crown (top) first.



Oak wilt fungus affects primarily

  • Red oaks
    • Spanish
    • Red (Texas)
    • Shumard
    • Black Jack
  • Live oaks

White oaks are not as drastically affected.

Oak wilt spreads through

  • Root transmission
    • Roots grafted together or that were interconnected from inception.
    • Rate of spread through the roots is 50-100 ft per year.
  • Open (unsealed) wounds and cuts
    • Nitidulid beetle attracted to open wounds transmits fungus.
    • Contagious Fungal mats (only on red oaks).
  • Human transfer
    • Improperly sanitized tree trimming equipment.

Treatment of infected trees

  • Alamo (or generic) fungicide through Macro infusion. http://www.texasoakwilt.org/Professionals/Injection/injection.html
    • More effective on live oaks than red oaks.
    • Fungicide treatment is not a cure and does not stop spread.
    • Fungicide treatment helps the treated tree fight the fungus and survive.
    • Fungicide is not 100% effective.
  • Timing of treatment is important.
    • Once tree is showing signs of infection, treatment less successful.
    • Treat when trees are within 100-200 ft of infected ones.
    • Communicate with neighbors when you treat.
    • Fungus continues to spread through roots at 50-100ft/year.
  • Trenching a loop of containment 100ft outside of infected trees.
    • Costly.
    • Most effective if done properly.

For More Information See Texas Oak Wilt Partnership Site

See also:

Trees are good http://www.treesaregood.com/ (recommended by Eric Beckers)

Eric Beckers, Texas Forest Service
ebeckers@tfs.tamu.edu
512-339-3772