Trees in the Minnesota region are susceptible to infections and diseases year-round. Therefore it is important to ensure that your trees are well looked after and have a maintenance plan in place for when they do develop diseases. Maintaining healthy trees enhances their resilience against diseases like oak wilt. Even though Oak trees are sturdy, tall, and permanent in nature, they’re not free from disease spread or from the risk of infections.

Oak Wilt is a deadly fungal disease that causes the wilting and eventual death of oak trees. The Oak Wilt fungus, Ceratocystis fagacerum, can be spread by beetles above the ground or by root-to-root grafting between trees.

For root-to-root grafting, the fungus develops under the tree barks and then spreads to the other roots through fungal mats. These mats then attract beetles and other bugs that start laying eggs and spreading the infection even further. Oak bark beetles, such as Pseudopityophthorus minutissimus and Pseudopityophthorus pruinosus, play a significant role in the transmission of the oak wilt fungus among oak trees.

While Oak Wilt can be devastating, quick action may save a tree already attacked by oak wilt. There are important warning signs to catch Oak Wilt during its early stages. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms to help prevent the disease from inflicting more damage.

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Identifying Oak Wilt Symptoms

Oak wilt can be difficult to identify without professional help, because many of the symptoms mirror those of other plant diseases. Recognizing oak wilt symptoms early is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms often include browning or wilting leaves (usually starting at the tips or edges), branch dieback, and premature leaf drop. Keep an eye out for any change in your trees.

Ensuring overall tree health through proper care practices like watering and mulching can enhance resilience and aid in managing and diagnosing oak wilt.

Shedding Leaves

If you notice leaves shedding while the majority of the tree is still green, you should cut the wilted branch immediately. Shedding leaves on an otherwise healthy tree is one of the most common signs of Oak Wilt infections. Identifying oak wilt infection centers is crucial for managing the disease effectively, as it allows for the removal of diseased trees, disruption of root connections, and prevention of new infection centers, especially through root grafts between other tree species and closely related oak species.

Browning Throughout the Leaves of a Branch

If the oak leaves are suddenly yellowing or browning throughout the branch, it’s an indication that something is wrong with your trees. The possibility of your trees suffering from Oak Wilt increases if you start noticing these signs.

Seek professional help to make sure you catch the disease quickly and speed up the treatment process. Different oak species have varying susceptibilities to oak wilt, with red oak species being particularly severe, while the swamp white oak and bur oak species also show different levels of susceptibility and survival rates.

Dark Circles in the Bark and on Branches

If you begin to see dark circles in the otherwise lighter tissues of a branch or bark, it’s probably a good indicator that you need help as soon as possible as your trees might be suffering from Oak Wilt. Northern pin oak is particularly susceptible to this disease.

Contact us at Birch Tree Care if you notice any signs. Our arborists have been treating Oak Wilt in the Minnesota region for decades now and will come up with the treatment plan best suited for your trees.

Our Oak Wilt Treatment Options

While these are steps that can minimize the spread of infection, it is important to treat the initial source and cause of the wilted oaks. The treatment is a serious responsibility and requires professional expertise to address the infected tree effectively. It is important to use the correct equipment to break the tree’s connection with other oak trees nearby.

Various strategies to manage oak wilt include using fungicide injections, employing trenching methods, and removing infected trees if absolutely necessary. At Birch Tree Care, our arborists provide a variety of treatment options for your oak trees to ensure they’re healthy and disease-free. An integrated approach to oak wilt management is crucial for effective control and minimizing tree losses. Oak wilt prevention through timely actions such as pruning practices and the use of fungicides is essential. Accurately diagnosing and treating oak wilt is vital to manage the disease effectively.

Oak Tree Trimming

Wilted branches and leaves need to be pruned immediately. Leaving them unattended will not only damage the entire tree but will also increase the risk of spreading to other trees nearby.

Leave it up to our trained team of plant health care professionals to prune your oak trees to ensure it is free of any potential infections and damage. Proper timing and methods to prune oaks are crucial to prevent the spread of oak wilt, ideally during late fall and winter, while avoiding wounding in spring and painting pruning cuts immediately.

Oak Wilt Root Flare Injections

Oak wilt is responsible for killing large numbers of oak trees in Minnesota each year. It is more severe and deadly to Red Oaks than to White Oaks and Bur Oaks. Ensure your oak trees are protected with preventative root flare injections. Preventing the formation of new oak wilt infection centers through root flare injections is crucial to managing the spread of the disease.

If you think your trees might be suffering from Oak Wilt, simply contact us and one of our arborists will be happy to provide you with a custom quote for Oak Wilt treatment.

Areas We Offer Oak Wilt Treatment

Birch Tree Care is your local residential and commercial tree care company providing plant health care services to the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

At Birch Tree Care, we'll treat your trees as if they were our own. Our team of certified arborists care deeply about trees and work safely and efficiently to come up with a treatment plan that is best suited to your plant's needs.

If you're looking to get Oak Wilt treated, call us at 651-317-4080 for more information on our service options in your neighborhood.

Oak Wilt Treatment Customer Reviews

“I’ve been a happy customer for years. Birch Tree’s work is excellent, reasonably priced, and completed when promised. I routinely family, friends, and neighbors to them. No one has ever been disappointed. Thank you, Tony and Mitch, for caring for our beautiful trees and making our yard a sanctuary!” - Rhys Ledger

“Birch Tree is a great company. They did an excellent job at my house. Their on-site staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and on time. Tony Sylvester was great at explaining how and why things should be done. Overall, I would recommend them if you need any tree work done.” - Eric Yackel

Oak Wilt Disease FAQs

Oak Wilt is a devastating vascular wilt disease that commonly affects all oaks, but most commonly species in the red oak family. It spreads rapidly through the tree’s vascular system and can kill susceptible trees in a matter of weeks. If you notice any signs of wilting, reach out to our arborists at Birch Tree Care for advice.
Our plant health care specialists at Birch Tree Care have been working with tree diseases for years now and know the right treatment plans for oak trees. Leave it up to them to examine the extent of the infection and provide you with the best treatment and prevention plan for your trees.
If you notice that your oak tree is wilting, the branches are dying, and the bark is damaged beyond repair, it might be time to cut down the tree. Reach out to our team of professionals to help examine the extent of damage and make a recommendation for your trees.

Why Choose Birch Tree Care for Healthy Trees

Birch Tree Care is your local neighborhood tree care company. Since we're from your area, we understand how important and valuable the trees in the Twin Cities area are. Our certified arborists and technicians have the knowledge and expertise to help you protect your oak trees from this dangerous disease.

Above all else, our team is concerned about treating infected trees, especially when it comes to damage caused. At Birch Tree Care, we'll treat your trees with the utmost care. Our professional arborists want property owners to be proud of the work we do for you just as we are about the way we treat your Oak trees.

Oak Wilt Treatment