What Is Oak Wilt Disease?
Oak wilt disease is a type of fungal infection that can infect and kill oak trees. Its spread is a topic of major concern — state and national environmental agencies monitor it closely and take preventive steps.
The fungus spores are carried by certain beetles that are attracted to the sap. If your tree becomes damaged and has its inner layers removed, the fungus can spread from the beetles to the trees.
The fungus spreads through the vascular tissue of the tree. In response, your tree will attempt to isolate the infected area, blocking it from the flow of water and nutrients. This causes the affected branch or section of the tree to wilt — hence the name “oak wilt disease.”
The disease affects red oaks and white oaks, both of which are found throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul. It can infect and kill a red oak within just a few weeks. In white oaks, trees can last for a year or more before dying from infection.
Why Do I Need Diseased Tree Removal?
Some home or business owners might think that there’s nothing to be done about a tree affected by oak wilt disease. The tree is either already dead or dying, so why bother with it? However, this isn’t true at all. You do need to take action and seek out diseased tree removal.
One of the reasons you need diseased oak tree removal is that the disease can spread from tree to tree. While beetles are responsible for spreading the disease long distances, trees can also pass it directly. If the dead oak tree’s roots are in contact with those of another tree, the fungus can spread.
Mature oak tree roots can cover a large radius, so this is a serious threat even if your tree doesn’t look too close to others. You could find yourself dealing with not just one but multiple dead oak trees on your property.
Even if you aren’t sure about what caused your tree’s death, you should still reach out about dead tree removal. Properly diagnosing oak wilt disease is important to ensure that the correct steps are taken to protect your property and the appropriate environmental agencies are informed.
Dead tree removal is also essential to ensure the safety of your property. A mature oak tree can have substantial limbs that pose a serious threat to structures and people when they fall. Even if your oak tree isn’t over a structure, a family member or guest in the wrong place at the wrong time could be seriously injured or even killed by a falling limb.
Safe and controlled oak tree removal alleviates these risks. You won’t have to worry about the impact that a falling tree or limbs can have. Instead, you can have peace of mind knowing that your property is safe for everyone there.
How Can I Tell If I Need Tree Removal?
To find out whether your tree has died due to oak wilt disease, you’ll need the experts from Tree Top Climbers to take a look. Testing is required to verify the cause of death. However, there are signs you can look for to tell when you may need dead tree removal, regardless of the cause.
The very first symptom you may notice is a browning of the leaves near the top of the tree, which may be difficult to see at first for mature oaks. The leaves first brown at their base and spread along the veins. As the disease gets worse, you may notice entire limbs and branches start to brown.
Leaves will start to fall prematurely. If you inspect under the bark, you may also notice a fungal mat. This can cause the bark to crack on the outside as well. Any of these signs are reasons to reach out to Tree Top Climbers as soon as possible to limit the spread of this disease.
How Can I Prevent Oak Wilt Disease?
Unfortunately, it isn’t always possible to prevent oak wilt disease, as the beetles responsible for its spread can come and go without notice. But the disease requires exposed inner layers to infect the tree, so you can take steps to prevent that.
Avoid pruning during the growing seasons. If you must prune a damaged tree, you can seal the ends where you pruned with specialized tree dressing or simple latex paint to keep beetles and fungus out.
To prevent the disease from spreading from tree to tree on your property, keep an eye out for the health of your trees. If something seems off, reach out to Tree Top Climbers to determine whether you need oak tree removal to protect the rest of your trees.
Safe Dead Tree Removal
Dead and diseased tree removal is something you should always leave to the professionals. This is particularly true when dealing with mature oak trees, which can be considerable in size and pose a serious risk during amateur removal.
When you put your trust in Tree Top Climbers, you can rest easy knowing that experienced tree removal experts are handling the job. We have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to ensure that your tree removal is carried out safely.
There’s no need to take the risk of removing trees yourself when you can ensure everyone’s safety by going with the professionals at Tree Top Climbers. We’ll safely cut down and remove the tree, leaving your property safe and clean when we leave.
That’s also true if your tree is hanging over or very close to structures on your property. You can prevent unnecessary damage and expense by letting a team with the necessary skills and equipment bring down and remove dead trees without impacting your home or other structures.
Professional and Affordable Service
The team at Tree Top Climbers is committed to delivering excellent service to our friends and neighbors in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. As a family-owned and operated business, we know just how important honesty and integrity are to our customers.
At Tree Top Climbers, you’ll find affordable dead tree removal services. We’re here to ensure the safety of your property and protect your remaining trees at a reasonable price.
When you reach out to Tree Top Climbers, we’ll visit your property to determine whether you need dead tree removal and if oak wilt disease is the culprit. We’ll give you a clear and accurate quote on our services and let you know what all of your options are.
We work courteously throughout the entire process, causing minimal disruption to your home or business. You can count on our tree removal experts to carry out the job and provide an exceptional customer experience from start to finish.
Find Out Whether You Need Oak Tree Removal in Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN
If you’re not sure whether your trees are diseased or dead, you can reach out to Tree Top Climbers to find out. We’ll let you know if your trees need to be removed and provide you with a quote on our safe tree removal services.
Help protect your remaining trees and ensure a safe property in the Twin Cities metro area by reaching out to our team today.
