CONTACT OWEN TREE AT:
(800)724-6680
OAK WILT
Oak wilt is a fungus that inhabits the water conducting vessels of all species of oaks.  The fungus disrupts water movement to the crown and the leaves eventually wilt and fall off.   Spread of the disease is typically through root grafts of infected trees to uninfected trees.  However, beetles carrying the fungus spores can cause an infection as well.
SYMPTOMS
The leaves of Red Oaks will transition from dull green to bronze and finally tan. This process begins on the outer portion of the leaf and works towards the mid-vein of the leaf. Wilting in Red Oaks, the most obvious symptom, generally starts near the top of the tree and then rapidly involves the entire crown. The tree wilts completely within a few weeks after the first symptoms appear. Brown to black discoloration is present in the outer sap wood where the fungus has induced the tree to produce tylosis and gums which account for this discoloration.
The leaves of White Oaks and Bur Oaks turn brown starting at the leaf tip and moving to the base of the leaf. Leaf decline from oak wilt in the white oak group of trees can resemble normal fall coloration. Oak wilt infection generally occurs in random branches throughout the canopy of the tree. These trees may die in one year but more often die slowly over a period of several years. Bur Oaks are intermediate in susceptibility and may be killed as quickly as Red Oaks or as slowly as White Oaks.
Field identification of oak wilt is difficult. An arborist can conclude a tree is likely to be infected with oak wilt based on the symptoms presented by the tree, but positive identification of oak wilt often requires lab testing.
CONTROL
Pruning and trimming of Oak trees should only be done in the dormant month’s to prevent the possibility of infection through beetles carrying the fungus spores. If oaks are damaged in the spring by storm or construction, the wounds should be covered immediately with a tree wound dressing. Based on a large number of trees wounded throughout the growing season, infection from insect-carried spores occurred only in trees wounded in May and June. 
How to Control Oak Wilt
(800)724-6680
www.owentree.com
HOw to identify oak wilt
Oak Wilt Symptoms on leaves
Oak Wilt Stain in Twig
Once oak trees are infected, there is no known way of saving them. Control must first be aimed at halting the spread of the fungus through the root grafts to other trees. A trench between diseased and healthy trees immediately disrupts root grafts between these adjacent trees. 
Since the fungus spores can live on a dead tree for quite some time it is best to remove the dying and dead diseased Oak trees to help prevent the possibility of the spread of the disease to healthy trees via bark beetles.
CHEMICAL CONTROL
A fungicide which is macro infused into the vascular tissue of the healthy tree is very effective for Oak wilt control by protecting the water conducting tissue where the fungus grows. The fungicide is injected into the tree near the base of the root flare. The tree then distributes the chemical throughout the whole tree evenly. This application is done every two years.
Oak Wilt damage on Tree
Spore pad from Oak Wilt
Photos courtesy of www.forestryimages.org
Leonard
Owen Tree Service provides tree, lawn, and landscape services to the following cities and towns:
Genesee County, Michigan:
Burton
Davison
Flushing
Goodrich
Linden
Otisville
Clio
Fenton
Gaines
Grand Blanc
Montrose
Otter Lake
Flint
Genesee
Lennon
Mt Morris
Swartz Creek
Lapeer County, Michigan:
Almont
Brown City
Columbiaville
Imlay City
Metamora
Peck
Attica
Clifford
Dryden
Lapeer
North Branch
Sandusky
Hadley
Mayville
Otter Lake
Silverwood
Macomb County, Michigan:
Armada
Clinton Twp
Grosse Pointe
Macomb
New Haven
St Clair Shores
Centerline
Detroit
Grosse Pointe Farms
Ray
Sterling Heights
Chesterfield
Eastpointe
Grosse Pointe Shores
Memphis
Romeo
Utica
Clinton
Fraser
Grosse Pointe Woods
Mt Clemens
Roseville
Warren
Harrison Twp
New Baltimore
Shelby Twp
Washington
Oakland County, Michigan:
Auburn Hills
Bloomfield Village
Ferndale
Orion
South Lyon
Berkley
Clarkston
Franklin
Madison Heights
Ortonville
Southfield
Beverly Hills
Clawson
Hazel Park
Milford
Oxford
Troy
Bingham Farms
Commerce Twp
Highland
Novi
Pleasant Ridge
Walled Lake
Birmingham
Davisburg
Holly
Oak Park
Pontiac
Waterford
Bloomfield
Detroit
Huntington Woods
Oakland
Rochester
West Bloomfield
Bloomfield Hills
Farmington
Lake Orion
Oakland Twp
Rochester Hills
White Lake
Farmington Hills
Lathrup Village
Orchard Lake
Royal Oak
Wixom
St. Clair County, Michigan:
Algonac
Casco
East China
Harbor Beach
Lexington
Peck
Allenton
Clay
Emmett
Harsens Island
Marine City
Port Huron
Berlin
Clyde
Fair Haven
Jeddo
Marysville
Richmond
Brockway
Columbus
Fort Gratiot
Kimball
Memphis
Sandusky
Capac
Cottrellville
Goodells
Lakeport
North Street
St Clair
tree service in Lake Orion, MI
Name
Address
City
State
Zip Code
Home Phone
Cell Phone
Work Phone
E-Mail
Tree, Lawn, or Landscape Question or Service Needed
Owen Tree Service
Quality Comes With Knowledge and Experience
tree service Davison, MI
tree service Grand Blanc, MI
tree service in Bloomfield Hills, MI
tree service Lapeer, MI
tree service Flint, MI
tree service in Clarkston, MI
tree service in Metamora, MI
tree service in Macomb, MI
tree service Troy, MI