oak wilt

On a frosty morning in late November, the final cut has been done on the lawn, flowering baskets have been replaced by Christmas decorations, and all that’s left is to pick up leaves. Not so fast! Remember the Oaks!

Emerald Ash Borer University (EABU) is a virtual training made possible with funds from the US Forest Service, and a collaborative effort between Michigan State University, Purdue University and Ohio State University.

As we approach winter, and the Christmas season, here’s another thing to add to your list; Pruning your Oaks this Winter. There are several great reasons but the most important is to reduce the risk to your trees from contracting Oak Wilt. Let’s start with “What is Oak Wilt and why is now a good time to prune Oaks?”

Oak wilt is a disease caused by the fungal organism Bretziella fagacearum. The disease can spread both underground and above ground. The disease is spread underground to healthy oaks through the root system of infected oak trees. Additionally, sap-sucking beetles can be attracted to the fungal mats that form under the bark of infected, dead oaks and can spread the disease above ground as they move to uninfected oaks.

Changing EAB rules, oak wilt, invasive species management, and more! This spring’s EABU webinar series will cover a wide range of topics and see the start of a new series of 30-min All You Need to Know videos! Join us Thursdays at 11:00 AM ET starting March 18th. Details below!  

Oak wilt is a very serious and often deadly disease of oaks, specifically the oaks in the red or black oak group. The actual pathogen (Bretziella fagacearum) that causes the disease has been known to be in Ohio for many decades. Some years, it is worse than others. Oak wilt is not like the emerald ash borer that spreads rapidly, almost like a tidal wave moving in one direction. Oak wilt builds in a way that it can radiate out to other like trees, but advances at a slower pace, but even then, can cause tree death in a single season, and often in a matter of weeks