Texas Live Oak Tree Diseases Pictures

Armillaria root rot this fungal disease infects and kills cambial tissue causing the death of the trunk near the ground and the major roots.

Texas live oak tree diseases pictures.

However texas red oak and live oaks in the hill country and south central areas are the most commonly affected. Texas oak wilt is the most devastating tree disease affecting live oaks and red oaks in central texas and it s killing our valuable oak trees at epidemic proportions. Insecticides fungicides to control oak insect pests diseases. Swamp chestnut oak overcup oak and live oak.

The most common oak disease found in texas trees is called oak wilt. The causal organisms of root rot in oak tree are fungi parasitic algae and water molds. In other words the result is a weakened starch depleted tree with poor growth making it predisposed to diseases and pests that normally do them no harm. In summer when a landscape should be rich green you may spot bright autumn colored foliage in the bunch.

Chemical control of diseases and insects on large trees is usually not feasible since adequate coverage of the foliage with a pesticide cannot be achieved. The use of horticultural oil is a safer alternative to insecticides for spraying upward into a large tree. Branches begin dying near the top of the tree. The foliage of infected texas red oaks turns pale green then yellow and finally brown.

This may take from five to ten years on live oaks but less on other oaks after the first visual symptoms are observed. Perhaps you have seen diseased red oak trees from a distance. On the other side of the leaf it will look gray colored but as the disease gets worse it will turn brown. In similar types of oak decline worldwide research verifies the same patterns and causes as those occurring with the texas post oak mortality problem.

Live oak post oak water oak texas red oak willow oak sycamore persimmon winged elm hackberry american elm and western soapberry are reported to be hosts for oak decline. Above ground symptoms are undersized discolored and prematurely dropping leaves. It is a fungal vascular disease that clogs the water conducting system of a tree and shuts it down causing the infected tree to wilt and die. The fungus attacks healthy trees by spreading from infected nearby tree roots.

Oak root fungus armillaria mellea is a major concern for live oaks in the southwest. Vascular diseases oak wilt fungus ceratocystis fagacearum all species of oaks are susceptible. Oak tree blister can be detected on the top and bottom of the tree s leaves. The live oak tree is susceptible to a few diseases.

Oak wilt is one of the most destructive tree diseases having killed more than 1 million trees in central texas. The surface of the leaves will look blistered hence the name.