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It’s time to stop pruning oak trees! Oaks become more vulnerable
to oak wilt a couple weeks before budbreak occurs in the spring. Fresh wounds
at this time attract insects that spread the disease.
Oak wilt is an aggressive disease that
can kill a healthy looking tree in the red oak group (black, northern red, pin,
shingle, etc.) within a few weeks after symptoms are first noticed. If an oak
must be pruned or is damaged in the spring, immediately spray or paint a tree
wound dressing (available at garden centers) on the cut. Do NOT wait. This is
the only situation where we recommend using a tree wound dressing, and
treatment is not necessary at other times during the year. For more information
on oak wilt, see the MDC Oak Wilt Forest Health Alert.
Use a tree wound dressing in the spring to prevent oak wilt infection. MDC photo |
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