Keep oak trees healthy by helping prevent oak wilt disease

  • A tree affected by oak wilt has lost its leaves from the crown down. Oak wilt can quickly kill trees in the red oak family. The fungus can be carried by beetles during the spring and summer, so don’t prune trees from April 15-July 15 to protect them from disease.
    A tree affected by oak wilt has lost its leaves from the crown down. Oak wilt can quickly kill trees in the red oak family. The fungus can be carried by beetles during the spring and summer, so don’t prune trees from April 15-July 15 to protect them from disease.

    LANSING

    The leaves of a tree affected by oak wilt are mottled green and brown and ready to drop far too early in the season.

    During the period between April 15 and July 15, beetles actively carry spores of fungus from tree to tree, meaning oak trees are at high risk for infection with oak wilt. Oak trees with wounds in their bark are susceptible to the disease, which can weaken white oaks and kill r…