Invasive fungus quickly kills red oak trees
Share or view as webpage [ [link removed] ]? |? Update preferences [ [link removed] ]
Michigan Invasive Species Program banner [ [link removed] ]
"News Release"
Contact: Simeon Wright <
[email protected]>, 906-203-9466 or Joanne Foreman <
[email protected]>, 517-284-5814
Prune oak trees in winter to avoid oak wilt
Leaves are down, temperatures are cooler, and that means it?s prime time for pruning oak trees, which can be infected by the oak wilt fungus if they?re pruned during the high-risk period April 15-July 15.
A cluster of four red oak leaves, each with brown tips and outer edges and green centers.
?Beetles that can carry the disease from tree to tree are not very active now, and the trees are not vulnerable to infection,? said Simeon Wright, forest health specialist with the DNR Forest Resources Division. The beetles are attracted to fresh bark damage or wounds where tree limbs have been removed.
Oak wilt also spreads when firewood from infected trees is moved to new locations. If you cut wood from an oak tree that might have died from oak wilt, cover the wood with a plastic tarp and bury the tarp?s edges underground to prevent access by the beetles that spread the disease. Ensure the tarp remains intact for six to12 months until the bark sloughs off. This will kill the fungus and prevent its spread to healthy trees.
Tree trimming around structures, limb removal and even construction or clearing that can result in damage to oak trees should be planned outside of the oak wilt susceptibility period.
Waiting for winter assures that trees are dormant, so they won?t respond with new growth late in the season that is more vulnerable to winter injury.
Oak wilt, identified in the 1940s, is widespread across Michigan?s Lower Peninsula and along the Wisconsin border in the Upper Peninsula. Red oaks are most susceptible and can die within weeks of infection. These trees have leaves with pointed tips and include black oak, northern red oak and northern pin oak. Trees in the white oak group have rounded leaf edges and are less susceptible. Affected trees will suddenly wilt from the top down, rapidly dropping leaves, which can be green, brown or a combination of both colors.
If you suspect oak wilt:
* Report infections at Michigan.gov/ForestHealth [ [link removed] ].
* Contact a DNR specialist at
[email protected] or 906-203-9466.
* Verify an oak wilt infection with Michigan State University?s Diagnostic Clinic. Go to PestID.MSU.edu [ [link removed] ] or call 517-355-4536.
* Visit MichiganOakWilt.org [ [link removed] ] for a listing of oak wilt-qualified experts.
Learn more about invasive species and diseases at Michigan.gov/Invasives [ [link removed] ].
________________________________________________________________________
"Michigan's Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources."
________________________________________________________________________
*Note to editors:*?The accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows.?
Oak wilt leaves [ [link removed] ]: Dieback of oak leaves in the summer is a symptom of oak wilt. Photo courtesy of?D.W. French, University of Minnesota, Bugwood.org
DNR Logo 24 bit PNGDept of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy logoMDARD Logo
If you wish to no longer receive emails from the DNR,
please update your preferences here:
Manage Preferences [ [link removed]? ]??|??Delete Profile [ [link removed] ]? |??Help [ [link removed] ]
Need further assistance?
Contact Us [ [link removed] ]??|??Provide Feedback <
[email protected]>
Visit us on our website: Michigan.gov/DNR [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to
[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ? Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 ? 1-800-439-1420
