The best way to determine if your oak tree is sick from a fungal or bacterial disease is to inspect it thoroughly. Continue reading to learn the common signs of oak tree decline, and what to do if your tree is infected with a disease.
Common Signs of a Sick Oak Tree
The most common oak tree diseases will generally begin to show signs within the first week or two of being infected; and these signs usually start at the leaves. For this reason, it is helpful to pay close attention to your oak tree’s leaves and canopy since this is the most common place a tree disease will begin to reveal itself. From there, address the bark and surrounding environment to assess your oak tree’s condition.
Leaf Symptoms to Look For:
◾ Browning
◾ Wilting
◾ Pale Green
◾ Red Spots
◾ Orange or Yellow Spots
◾ Powdery Film
◾ Little Black Spots
◾ Bare Spots in Canopy
◾ Foliage Loss
◾ Premature Dropping
◾ Bumps or Galls
◾ Vein Discoloration
Other Signs of a Sick Oak Tree:
◾ Peeling or Missing Bark
◾ Spongy or Wet Bark
◾ Sour Odor
◾ Moss Growth
◾ Heightened Pest Activity
◾ Dead Branches and Twigs
◾ Visible Cankers
◾ Epicormic Shoots
◾ White Crust on Bark
Oak Tree Treatment
The most common treatments for a sick oak tree generally include fungicide injections, insecticide sprays, and strategic tree pruning and fertilizing. The type of treatment for an oak tree depends on the disease that is affecting it. After you inspect your tree, if it is showing two or more of the above symptoms, your Oak could be sick or under distress. Your next step is to contact a Fishers tree service for advice on treating a sick oak tree. Not only do they have the proper knowledge and experience to provide proper preventative maintenance and routine tree care for you, they can refer you to a local arborist so that you can identify what’s causing your oak tree problems. In many cases, a tree can be treated over a period of time to bring it back to health. Other times, a tree is too sick to be treated and would need to be removed instead.