By pruning during the winter months, gardeners can reduce the chance of infection.
, the middle of winter is the only time when we should consider doing any type of pruning of oak trees in order to reduce the potential for infection by the pathogen that causes oak wilt. Wounds caused by pruning cuts during the growing season attract an insect that spreads the disease, and by pruning during the winter months, we can avoid the potential “overland” spread of this disease.
The fungus invades the sapwood, which is the water-conducting tissue of the tree. In addition to its presence in the tree, the fungus also triggers a defense reaction by the tree to stop the fungal spread. This response by the tree interferes with water uptake from the tree roots upward to branches and leaves in the canopy of the tree. The result is wilting, where leaves turn brown from the tips, inward to the base of the leaf where it is attached to the branch.
, which are attracted to the smell of sap when oaks are pruned or wounded in some way. These beetles are active during the growing season, particularly in spring, when many homeowners take advantage of warmer weather to prune shade trees and other woody ornamentals. The fungus can also be spread from an infected tree to other nearby oaks that have roots grafted to each other underground. This typically occurs in locations where several mature oaks are growing close together in a forested setting such as a park or other wooded location. Single oaks in a home landscape are not susceptible to this underground mode of transmission.
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