Oak wilt is a serious disease caused by a fungus that is specific to oaks. The fungus is spread through root grafts between neighboring trees and by insects. Red Oaks are particularly susceptible to oak wilt. The infection causes leaf discoloration, defoliation and death in a very short period of time (from two months to one year).
Ways to help prevent Oak Wilt are to only prune these trees at the proper time of year, and have one of our Certified Arborists inspect your tree(s) for signs of the fungus. Treatment options by our Licensed Chemical Applicators are available allowing you to preserve the beauty and longevity of your Oak trees.
Initial symptoms of the disease will appear as browning leaves, beginning at the leaf tip and moving downward and inward toward the stem. As the disease progresses, limbs will die off. Fungal mats may develop under the bark, pushing the bark out and causing cracks. If left untreated, the tree will die, sometimes within a matter of months.