OAK WILT TREATMENT

OAK WILT TREATMENT

What is Oak Wilt?

Oak wilt is a disease that is dangerous to oak trees, especially the red oak, caused by a particular fungus called Bretziella fagacearum. You don’t have to memorize the name of the fungus to recognize symptoms of oak wilt in your trees. Most people first notice that there’s a problem when they see dead foliage at the top of their oaks. Leaves may become discolored, wilt, and fall off when they should be healthy and growing. If you suspect oak wilt, you have to act fast because oak wilt can completely kill a healthy oak tree in a matter of weeks, and oak wilt tends to spread quickly. 

Can My Tree Be Saved From Oak Wilt?

While oak wilt can be devasting, with stories of people right here in central Texas losing over 30 trees in just weeks, quick action may save a tree already attacked by oak wilt. 


Full Canopy Tree Service is trained and qualified to use the latest treatments and techniques to stop oak wilt in its tracks. Aside from preventing the spread of oak wilt to nearby trees, sometimes oaks can heal from oak wilt attacks if treated soon enough. 


 If you suspect oak wilt, time is of the essence. Do not delay in getting a certified arborist to diagnose your tree’s ailments and recommend the appropriate treatment.

Texas Oak Wilt Qualified Oak Wilt Treatment Professionals

How Do I Know If I Have Oak Wilt?

  • Inspecting Oak Trees for Oak Wilt

    Diagnosing a tree with laboratory tests is the best way to be sure that oak wilt has taken hold of your oaks, but there are some signs that a visual inspection will help identify the fungal attack

  • Check The Tops of Oak Trees

    Oak trees display the signs of an oak wilt attack at the top of the tree first. This is especially easy to notice in the summer, when one oak tree may be full except for a bald spot at the top. It’s so noticeable in the summer because the neighboring healthy trees will have a full, green canopy, so the lone baldy will stand out. If you notice an oak tree that looks dead at the top, it deserves closer inspection.

  • Time Is Of The Essence

    Dealing with a suspected oak wilt attack, time is not on your side. The fungus can kill a huge oak in as little as a month. If you suspect oak wilt, you should seek the services of a trained arborist immediately. Saving the infected oak and preventing the spread of oak wilt to surrounding trees requires swift action. As soon as you suspect a problem, investigate it.

  • Inspect The Veins Of The Tree

    Oak trees use veins to carry nutrients from the roots throughout the tree. Because oak wilt is a disease that attacks the vascular system of oaks, preventing transport of water and nutrients, a careful inspection of the veins of a tree under the bark can reveal dark or discolored veins in a sick tree.

  • Check For A Fungal Mat

    While not conclusive, a relationship has been found between the presence of a fungal mat or fungal floor and the existence and spread of oak wilt. It hasn’t been determined definitively yet, but some believe that beetles walk through these mats and carry the spores of the oak wilt fungus from one tree to the next. While the simple presence of a fungal mat doesn’t confirm the oak wilt fungus, it is a good indicator that more investigation is warranted.

  • Laboratory Tests

    The only conclusive way to determine if your oak trees are being ravaged by oak wilt is to send samples to a laboratory for testing. 

Why Choose Full Canopy Tree Care for Oak Wilt Treatment?

Our lead arborist and company founder, Brennon Magee is local who understands trees in this area. Brennon is Texas Oak Wilt Certified with TexasOakWilt.org, a combined effort by ISA Texas, the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to manage this devastating disease in Texas. 


To make sure we take the best course of action, an Oak Wilt Certified ISA Certified Arborist will assess your trees for proper diagnosis, establish treatment goals and recommend a management program. In some cases, prophylactic use of fungicide may be appropriate. At Full Canopy Tree Care, oak wilt fungicide injections are only performed by a Texas Oak Wilt Certified ISA Certified Arborist.



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