Central Minnesotans Should Know This About Their Oak Trees

OAK WILT IS HERE

Is your beautiful oak tree looking puny this year, or is there something more treacherous happening to it?

ALL OAK TREES IN MINNESOTA CAN BE AFFECTED

Oak Wilt is a deadly disease that affects every kind of oak tree found in Minnesota. There are two different ways for your oak trees to get infected with Oak Wilt, according to the Minnesota DNR. Above ground, it can spread from sap beetles; below ground it can spread through the roots that have grown together, called root grafts. The state of Wisconsin has put together a video to help you identify if your trees have Oak Wilt.

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COUNTIES THAT NEED TO REPORT SUSPECTED OAK WILT

Oak Wilt is spreading through Minnesota. It is already in east-central Minnesota as well as Southern Minnesota and is expanding. The following counties are being asked to report known or suspected oak wilt in the following counties:

SYMPTOMS OF OAK WILT

• Leaves wilt and drop from the upper canopy first, and progress down the tree rapidly.
• Wilting symptoms are observed from June through September, but symptoms are most often from July through August.
• Leaves of infected trees turn dull green or bronze and look water-soaked.
• The leaves will fall to the ground when they are still partially green, unlike normal leaves that fall only when they are not.

CAN I SAVE MY OAK TREE?

Prevention is the best way to avoid your tree getting Oak Wilt. To learn how to avoid getting Oak Wilt, can get expensive, so check with others in your area, and check your tree for symptoms, maybe prevention of a favorite tree might be the best plan of action. Click HERE to learn more.