Red Oaks

Red Oaks

Red Oak trees are highly susceptible to oak Wilt, and their survival rate is very low - the mortality rate is effectively 100%.

Typically, once symptoms become evident, red oaks succumb to the disease within a relatively short period, often within 4 to 6 weeks.

Oak Wilt infected Red Oaks can be easily identified during the summer months by their bright red coloration. This is called flagging.

Luckily, Red Oaks do not root graft like Live Oaks.

Red Oaks will NOT infect nearby trees via root grafting.

However, Red Oaks will spread Oak Wilt by hosting fungal mats. Fungal mats do not occur on White or Live oaks. These mats are home to the fungus that causes Oak Wilt. Beetles that feeds on the fungal mats on/in Red Oaks then spread the fungus to other nearby trees that have recently been wounded.

Red Oaks infected with Oak Wilt should be removed immediately. They cannot be saved.

The fungal mats often have the smell of fermenting fruit.