Environment
BY APRIL KELLEY
Forester explains how to detect and prevent oak wilt
Documented oak wilt in Travis County in 2024
Oak wilt
February marks the beginning of the highest risk season for oak wilt infections as well as the beginning of the time period the city of Lakeway prohibits pruning oak trees, according to city o cials. Oak wilt infections—one of the most destructive tree diseases—are especially widespread in Central Texas, killing millions of oak trees every year. The infectious disease is caused by a fungus that invades and disables the water-conducting system in oak trees, according to
Texas Oak Wilt, a collaborative oak wilt information project between Texas A&M and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The city of Lakeway prohibits pruning oak trees from Feb. 1-June 30 as part of the Diseased Tree Ordinance, which focuses on oak wilt prevention. The ordinance is strictly enforced with possible nes of $500 to $1,000 per day if violated, according to the city.
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Dates to know Feb. 1-June 30: pruning illegal, high infection risk July-Oct.: second best time to prune, medium infection risk Nov.-Dec.: best time to prune, low infection risk
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SOURCE: TEXAS OAK WILT COMMUNITY IMPACT
The speci cs
Keep in mind
According to Texas Oak Wilt and Lakeway Forester Richard Leon, oak wilt in Live Oaks: • Can be treated with fungicide • Results in yellow, brown or dark green discoloration of leaf veins • Causes browning along leaf edges Meanwhile, oak wilt in Red Oaks: • Should result in immediate removal of the tree • May result in wilted pale green or brown leaves in early spring
Precautionary steps for homeowners include: • Seeking preventative treatment for oak wilt that will last a few years • Consulting with a certi ied oak wilt arborist to check for symptoms • Covering trimmed trees immediately with a coat of any kind of paint to create a barrier
The best thing homeowners can do to help stop the spread of oak wilt is stop trimming trees, unless necessary due to a safety concern, as it creates open wounds that make trees susceptible to infection, Leon said. “They’re creating so many wounds, and then their neighbors are creating so many wounds,” Leon said.
Oak wilt causes leaf discoloration.
COURTESY CITY OF LAKEWAY
To help detect oak wilt infection, Leon said homeowners can view photos of symptomatic oak trees on the Texas Oak Wilt website at https://texasoakwilt.org or hire an oak wilt-certi ed arborist to check for symptoms.
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION
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