Oak Wilt Prevention: Time to Cut Trees

Shavano Park Real Estate owners trim your Oak trees now. July, August, and September are authorized months to trim and prune your oak trees. Shavano Park Ordinances prohibit oak tree trimming for 7 months of the year in order to reduce the risk of Oak Wilt disease. December and January are the other two months that are authorized to trim. You will need to secure a permit at City Hall before trimming. The fees from this permit go toward the City’s Oak Wilt fund that is used to combat Oak Wilt outbreaks like the one last year.(neighborhoodnews.com)

Oak wilt, one of the most destructive tree diseases in the United States, is killing oak trees in central Texas at epidemic proportions. Oak wilt is an infectious disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, which invades and disables the water-conducting system in susceptible trees. All oaks are susceptible to oak wilt to some degree, but some species are affected more than others. The successful management of oak wilt depends on correct diagnosis and an understanding of how the pathogen spreads between different oak species. (Texasoakwilt.org)

There are three primary approaches used for oak wilt management in Texas.
• Preventing New Infections
• Stopping Spread through Roots
• Fungicide Treatment

Shavano Park Real Estate owners please be cautious and don’t ignore the threat. Our neighborhood trees have been in the landscape for a century or more. It is something that cannot be replaced overnight. The death of such beautiful trees can lead to drops in property value, so Oak Wilt prevention is key to keeping Shavano Park a truly magical place to live.