Oak wilt has and continues to be a big problem in Andover and the whole Anoka sand plain. This disease is caused by a fungus, which clogs the vascular system of the tree. In defense, the tree produces certain structures, which plug up the water conducting vessels. This prevents water and nutrients from reaching the leaves. The disease can do a number on oak trees if left untreated.
Red oaks, including northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra) are highly susceptible to oak wilt. They may die in only a matter of a couple weeks. White oaks, including bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and eastern white oak (Quercus alba), are more resistant to the disease. They may take months or even years to succumb to it.
The most common oaks in Andover are the northern pin oak and bur oak. They are both found all over the city. Red oak and white oak are found along the western part of the City, along the Rum River.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the disease include discoloration of the leaves from green to a brown or red color. The colors may vary depending on the species. Eventually, the leaves wilt and fall off the tree. The wilting process starts from the tips of the leaves. It usually starts at the top of the tree and progresses downward.
How it Spreads
There are 2 different ways oak wilt can spread. One is via the root system. Different trees of like species are capable of forming root grafts. This involves roots of 1 tree actually bonding to the roots of another tree. About 90% of new infections are from diseased trees passing the disease along to neighboring healthy trees through the roots.
The other way oak wilt can spread is from overland spread. This involves different species of picnic beetles picking up the fungus from a diseased tree and spreading it to a healthy tree. Diseased red oaks can produce spore mats, which are areas where the bark has broken open from the pressure of the fungus. These beetles are attracted to the fruity smell that these spore mats protrude. A healthy oak tree with a wound is a prime target for the beetle. The beetle is attracted to the wound on the healthy tree and the healthy tree becomes infected.
Treatments & Prevention of Oak Wilt
Pruning
You can help prevent oak wilt from starting on your property by simply avoiding pruning oaks during April through September. The highest risk months are April thru June, as this is when the picnic beetle is most active and the trees emit the most sap and are most attractive to the beetles. If you need to prune during these months, apply a safe tree wound dressing to the wound within an hour of the cut. During the safe period (October thru March), you do not need to apply the wound dressing.
Root Graft Disruption
Root graft disruption is accomplished by cutting the roots between diseased trees and healthy trees to break the root grafts. This is commonly done by use of a vibratory plow or trenching machine. Many plows have a blade that can go down 5 feet or more. Generally, the deeper the blade can go, the better chance the treatment will work.
Chemical Injections
Different chemicals can be injected into oaks to try and save them as well. Treatment effectiveness can be 80 - 90%. This is often done in conjunction with root graft disruption to give the healthy trees a better chance for survival. Sometimes, this may be the only option to save some trees, as plowing may not be an option if certain conditions exist, such as: tight quarters preventing machine access; fences or structures are present; underground utilities or irrigation lines are present; risk of damage to sensitive landscapes; or trees are too close to one another.
Infected white oaks can be saved therapeutically by injecting if caught in early enough stages. These are trees with less than 30% wilt showing. Generally, red oaks cannot be saved once they show symptoms, unless caught extremely early on. It may be worth a shot, but the chance of saving an infected red oak isn't very high.