What is Oak Wilt and is my tree susceptible?
Most oak trees are vulnerable to oak wilt. However there are steps that limit susceptibility (i.e. using pruning spray immediately after pruning, pruning in the colder months, removing diseased firewood). Oak wilt is a serious disease caused by a fungus that attacks the vascular system of virtually all species of Oak trees resulting in the death of the tree in nearly every instance. The disease spreads mainly through interconnecting root systems of adjacent trees; and through wounds on trees (don’t prune oak trees in the springtime). Large infection areas can be controlled by “forest sanitation” methods that emphasize the removal of infected trees at the perimeter of the disease area. One method of dealing with the disease is to encourage tree diversity on your land. A fungicide (Alamo) properly applied to specimen trees prior to or during the very early stages of the disease has shown some promise for controlling oak wilt.
