Oak Wilt in the Canyon Lake Area Article 3 in the Oak Wilt Series - How to Live in the Hill Country Free of the Oak Wilt Threat
There is a difference between living under the threat of oak wilt verses co-existing with oak wilt without threat. To understand this statement, you must first realize that oak wilt has become part of the Hill Country eco system. Over 65 counties in Texas have been impacted by oak wilt with trees dying at epidemic proportions. In Comal County, there are currently 10 plus known active oak wilt hot spots and three of those are in Canyon Lake.
Oak Wilt in the Canyon Lake Area Article 2 in the Oak Wilt Series - Current Protocol Is Fundamentally Flawed and It Has Become A Scam In Practice
The current protocol used by Texas A&M Forest Service, arborists and tree contractors is to mitigate oak wilt in its later stages of development, after it has already spread and killed trees. At this later-stage development, oak wilt mitigation efforts are very limited in scope and strategy which has led to mitigation failures.
Oak Wilt in the Canyon Lake Area Article 1 in the Oak Wilt Series
Oak wilt is a debilitating disease that is killing millions of trees in Central, North and West Texas. The disease is caused by a fungus called Ceratocystis Fagacearum and affects both live and red oaks (Spanish oak, Blackjack oak and Shumard oak). Although red oaks are more susceptible to oak wilt, live oaks have interconnected root systems which cause massive spreading to adjacent trees. Oak wilt triggers the tree to release tissue as a defense mechanism to fight the disease. The tissue in turn, dams up the vascular system and disables the trees’ ability to take in water and causes certain death.
Oak Tree Stressors
Healthy oak trees are considered an asset to your property. It is important to make sure your oak trees are properly maintained, trimmed and kept healthy. It is also important to understand that oak trees can succumb to several stressors that can potentially lead oak decline and even death.