Oak Wilt In Brainerd and St. Cloud
Oak wilt (Bretiziella fagacearum) is a deadly disease of oak trees in Brainerd and St. Cloud, MN. It is caused by a fungus that invades the water conducting vessels of the tree, eventually killing infected oak trees. This disease can infect all species of oak trees. Red oak trees (leaves with pointed lobes) can die within 4-6 weeks after an infection. Bur oaks and white oaks (leaves with rounded lobes) can live for years with an infection before they finally succumb to the disease.
How To Identify Diseased Oak Trees
Wilting typically begins near the top or outer portions of the tree and works inward and downward. Leaves become bronze to reddish-brown at the tips and edges and also works inward and downward. Infected leaves quickly fall off.
Oak Wilt Treatments
Oak wilt is spread most often through root grafts of the root systems of nearby oak trees. Treatment is recommended on non-infected oaks close to diseased and dying oak trees. ArborThrive’s treatments consist of a trunk injected systemic fungicide, propiconazole, by a Certified Arborist and licensed pesticide applicator. This treatment can prevent symptoms in healthy trees near infected trees for up to two years.
Other prevention measures:
- Don’t prune oak trees between April and November.
- Sever root grafts between healthy and diseased trees.
- Don’t move firewood.