Oak Wilt Found in Neighborhood

A tree on Bloomfield Court has been diagnosed with oak wilt, a devastating fungal disease that kills oak trees. There is no effective treatment for an infected tree; once infected, most red oaks, black oaks and live oaks will die within two or three years, and some will die in as little as three months; white oaks seem better able to fight off the fungus and frequently survive.

Previously, the closest known infection was at Hoffmaster State Park. Although it is most commonly spread through the roots of adjacent trees, insects can spread the fungus too -- so all oaks in the neighborhood are at risk.

Tree specialists say that keeping uninfected trees as healthy as possible with regular feedings and plenty of water can sometimes help them fight off the infection. Oaks should not be pruned during periods of active growth, because doing so can expose sap to insects that transport the fungus. Application of specific fungicides, usually by a professional, can also help keep an uninfected tree healthy, but it costs up to $200 per tree, must be repeated annually, and does not guarantee that treated trees will survive.

Specialists also say that infections should be contained aggressively, including prompt removal of the infected tree. They say that trenching to isolate the root systems of infected trees and application of fungicide to nearby trees should be considered.

While I do not expect your association board to take an active role in this issue, I did want to inform you about it, and to encourage you to keep a close eye on any oak trees on or near your property and contact an arborist promptly if you notice any symptoms of oak wilt. The most obvious symptom is loss of leaves.

As homeowners living near the infected tree, Barb and I will be taking aggressive steps to save our own trees and help prevent the infection from spreading, and we hope you'll do the same.

Stan Miller, President