Oak Trees

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

Dun is right. But if one tree in that proximity gets it, from drought or whatever, and then the county comes around butchering, bugs are going to spread it from one tree to the next one.

There is a neighbor about a mile away that had one cured. It was a huge oak in his front yard probably 100 years old. Seems it was $1600. They dug the dirt away from the roots and drilled and tapped the roots with pipe threads or the like. Then they pressure treated the tree with something. The pressure drives curing chemicals all the way up the tree.

Seems I also remember them telling me that if you ever cut the tree there will be a colored ring for the year it was pressure treated.

They saved that tree for those folks.

The tornadoes that came through here in May 2003 ripped up many of my oaks around my house. An old one right out back got a reverse mohawk. I got to thinking about those bugs and climbed up there with a pump up sprayer with insecticide. I sprayed anything that looked bare and everything else around the tree just to keep any bugs from hitting it. Must have worked.

What they pump into the trees is a fungicide. Same treatment they use for the important elms up here and yes its a very expensive process. As I say the problem is sort of two fold. You have a tree killing fungus that is spread by insects, As far as spores rising when you burn the wood, I'd be skeptical. Fungus needs moisture to live and even wet wood dries out before it burns. Anyway, far better to burn it then leave it laying around so the insects can spread it. If its Oak Wilt (caused by a fungus), the first sign you'll see is just one or two branches where the leaves turn brown and (its called 'flagging). By that time its too late unless you want to try to save the tree by pumping it full of fungicide, otherwise better to take it down before it spreads and yes, it does spread through root systems as well as by insects. Good Luck.

CRR,

Thanks, I plan on taking down the third tree as soon as possible. The limbs will burn once the county lifts the burn ban. I'll take a good look at all the trees to see if there is any flagging on them and talk to the neighbors as well to see if they have any trees dying. I don't think I can do much for it spreading through the root systems, but what insects would carry the fungus?? Maybe I could spray some insecticides.

Jack

Usually the fungus is spread in the spring during pollination, so any insect that touches the fungus has the potential to spread it. Up here in the Elms, the primary carrier is the Elm Bark Beetle, but as I said, usually there really isn't any way to prevent the spread except make sure you get rid of the dead and decaying wood from the trees that are affected. Good Luck.