Oak wilt targets Central Texas trees
By Judy Tye Special to the Tribune-Herald
Central Texas’ native oaks, especially live oaks, are one of our most valuable assets.
They beautify our land, provide valuable shade and are our legacy from past generations.
But they are in danger. And many already have been destroyed by oak wilt fungal disease.
The disease has been detected in 72 Texas counties, up from 64 counties five years ago, The affected counties include McLennan and are mostly in Central and West Texas.
All oaks are at risk but the white oaks, such as the bur oak, post oak and Chinkapin oak, are quite resistant.
Red oaks, live oaks, Spanish oaks and blackjacks are the most susceptible.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the red oaks may play a unique role, as it appears that new infections require the presence of a red oak in the area.
Sharing root systems
Live oaks are seriously affected because of their habit of growing in clumps, or motts, with shared root systems.
Oak wilt is spread in two ways — by shared root systems and by a sap-feeding insect, the Nitidulid beetle, which is attracted to the fungal mats that form beneath the bark of infected red oaks.
The beetles feed mostly on standing trees, but they can also feed on logs, stumps, and fresh firewood of diseased red oaks.
If a beetle feeds on one of these fungal mats, then flies to open wounds on another oak, it can transmit the disease.
Preventive measures
Here are preventive measures to take to protect your oaks:
* Never prune oak trees while the beetle is active. Prune only during August through January. February through June are the dangerous months and avoid July just to be on the safe side.
* Seal all wounds to oaks immediately. You can use pruning paint, spray paint, even glue if you have nothing better, but do get the wound sealed quickly. An unsealed wound is an invitation to that sap-feeding beetle.
* Before making any cut on an oak, disinfect the cutting blade. Duncan Brooks, a certified arborist, said he and his crew spray cutting blades, chainsaws and other tools with a disinfectant such as Lysol. This is not a job for amateurs and you might should consider using a certified arborist.
* Buy only firewood that has been seasoned, and be sure to store it properly. That means encase it completely in clear plastic and bury the ends of the plastic, so no insect gets in or out.
If you suspect any of your trees might be infected, contact your county Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent at 757-5180 in McLennan County.
Judy Tye is a McLennan County Master Gardener and writer for Waco Today.
MORE IN LAWNS & GARDENS »
Tips from Master Gardeners
- Garden Q&A: Vegetables, garden drainage, fertilizing lawn
- Garden Q&A: Gardens, perennials, trees and more
- Garden Q&A: Hard for trees to recover when roots grow into limestone
- Garden Q&A: Grubs, begonias, Cypress trees and weedy lawns
- Garden Q&A: Dying pansies may be result of pill bugs
- Garden Q&A: Fruit trees need deep watering to be revived
- Garden Q&A: No escaping need for water
- Garden Q&A: Don't worry about bark loss on crape myrtles
- Garden Q&A: Weed control will help fight stickers
- Garden Q&A: Holly leaves will drop if over watered
- Garden Q&A: Yellow leaves mean blight
- Garden Q&A: Finding grubs normal as spring starts
- Garden Q&A: Exotic plants can have it rough
- Garden Q&A: Wrapping palms not enough when cold spells last too long
- Garden Q&A: Should trees be planted in high or low land?
- Garden Q&A: Is goat manure safe?
- Garden Q&A: Careful when trimming near crape myrtles
- Garden Q&A: Careful when prepping roots for planting
- Garden Q&A: Why didn't amaryllis bloom?
- Garden Q&A: When pansies are wilting
- Garden Q&A: Trimming crape myrtles won't hurt growth
- Garden Q&A: Christmas cactus is tricky to water
- Garden Q&A: Don't fertilize plants during winter months
- Garden Q&A: Box elder bugs little more than a nuisance
- Garden Q&A: Now is the time to give lawn a winter feeding
- Garden Q&A: Scaly flakes on stems bugging area gardeners
- Garden Q&A: Fall's first frost
- Garden Q&A: Fungal disease afflicts tree
- Garden Q&A: Cotton root rot strikes
- Garden Q&A: Mushrooms ugly but harmless
- Garden Q&A: Grassbur headache in lawn
- Garden Q&A: Crape myrtle seed pods
- Garden Q&A: Problems with new sod
- Garden Q & A: Crape myrtles and aphids
- Garden Q&A: Trees for Central Texas
- Garden Q&A: Burning does not control viruses
- Garden Q&A: Dig a few inches to check water needs
- Garden Q&A: Season for cinch bugs
- Garden Q&A: Crape myrtles blooming beautifully
- Garden Q&A: Nursing caladiums through summer
- Garden Q&A: Getting rid of perennial vine
- Garden Q&A: Holes in plant leaves
- Garden Q&A: Aphids or mites could cause cedar problems
- Garden Q&A: Lemon, orange trees can grow in containers
- Garden Q&A: Seek tomato plants suited to temperatures
- Garden Q&A: More on tomato plants, pruning, plant sickness and soil tests
- Garden Q&A: Tips to keep tomato plants strong
- Garden Q&A: Clean sand best to level lawn
- Garden Q&A: Fungal disease is difficult to eradicate
- Garden Q&A: Ridding flower beds of poison vines
- Garden Q&A: Pruning live oaks
- Garden Q&A: What can I grow well in the shade?
- Garden Q&A: Did winter kill off date palms?
- Garden Q&A: When is the right time to plant caladiums?
- Garden Q&A: Shrubs, getting rid of dallisgrass and weeds, soil tips
Ask a Master Gardener Help Line
Spring gardening brings many questions, such as when should I fertilize my lawn, or which are the best vegetables for Waco? Get answers to these and other questions by calling the Ask a Master Gardener Help Line at 254-757-5180, 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
