Oak trees are among the most majestic and beautiful trees in Indiana. They provide an abundance of benefits, and service even more purposes. But just like all living organisms, Oak tree are vulnerable to disease and illness too. One of the most common forms of oak tree disease is called oak wilt, and affects hundreds of acres of oak trees each year. Continue reading to learn more about oak wilt and how to manage a tree with this disease.
Oak Wilt Disease
Oak wilt is an intravenous fungal disease that attacks the vascular system of an Oak tree. It inhibits water and nutrients from accessing the tree’s canopy, causing the entire tree to suffer. There are two primary ways oak wilt disease is spread. The first and most common means of oak wilt transmission is root grafting. Root grafting occurs when the root systems of two separate trees come together and share water and nutrients. This is very common for trees that are close together. So if one tree becomes infected with oak wilt, and it is grafted with another tree’s roots, it can spread the disease to the other tree.
The other common form of oak wilt transmission is through beetles. Nitidulid beetles can carry oak wilt fungus from one tree to another. They are most active during the months of February to June, which is why you should never trim oak trees during this time of year. Nitidulid beetles are attracted to wounds in oak trees, so if an oak tree is newly trimmed during their active time of year, Nitidulid beetles will go for the fresh cut marks in the tree and potentially spread disease. For this reason, be sure to only trim Oaks between July and January. If an oak tree must be trimmed between February and June, pruning paint can protect against Nitidulid beetles and other pests.
The only effective method of treatment or preventative care is fungicide injections. Once oak wilt is identified within 200 feet of your landscaping trees, it is a good idea to proceed with fungicide injections for precautionary purposes. But preventative precautionary fungicide injections are not always effective. Once a tree is infected with oak wilt, the only fungicide treatment that can cure it is called Propiconazole. Again, treatment is not always effective. Talk to your local arborist for information about protecting your landscaping trees against disease and other hazards.
Tree Service in Fishers, IN
Fishers Tree Service 317-537-9770