What is Sudden Oak Death, and How Do I Prevent It?

photo from underneath an oak tree, looking up through the leaves as the sun pours through

The History, Signs to Look For, and When to Call for Tree Care

Just like humans and animals, trees can get sick, too. The problem is that most people don’t know the signs to look for, or they notice when it’s too late to do anything about it. A big part of tree care is knowing which fungi pose a threat to your trees.

One particularly nasty disease that affects oak trees goes by the name of Phytophthora ramorum, which is the fungus that causes sudden oak death. If that sounds ominous and scary, that’s because sudden oak death is responsible for quickly killing millions of oak trees in a short amount of time.

Backstory and Information About Sudden Oak Death

Phytophthora ramorum was originally discovered in European tree nurseries back in the mid-1990s, and has since spread to different parts of Asia, the United Kingdom, and America. However, P. ramorum didn’t have a huge impact in the United States until around 2004. Some nurseries on the west coast unknowingly shipped over a million trees that were potentially infected, which led to the disease being spread to 176 nurseries in 21 different states.

In June of 2019, an article published by K-State Research and Extension news reported that

P. ramorum was found in rhododendron container plants. This meant that there was a potential risk for the disease to spread from the rhododendron plants to any oaks already rooted in the ground. P. ramorum is a water mold that thrives in wet conditions, which put local arborists in Kansas on high alert. Fortunately, this particular fungus has a hard time surviving volatile shifts in temperature that are typical in the Midwest.

Although P. ramorum is a danger in any locale it’s detected, it’s been especially dangerous for oak trees in California, Washington, and Oregon. That’s because the west coast provides the perfect environment for this disease to thrive. To this day, it remains one of the biggest threats to west coast oak trees in several varieties.

Spotting the Signs of Sudden Oak Death and Getting Tree Care from a Certified Arborist Near You

The chances that one or more of your oak trees in Kansas City contracting P. ramorum is considerably low compared to California, Washington, and Oregon. The summers and winters in Kansas City make it difficult for the fungus to spread and thrive. Having said that, you should still know the signs to look for just in case one of your oaks gets sick.

Symptoms of P. ramorum:

  • Your oak tree develops cankers on the steam or branches; these cankers may potentially bleed and ooze

  • The leaves of your oak turn pale green, then yellow, then brown

  • It can cause twig dieback in some cases with alternative species; however, it’s non-fatal

So, what do you do if you suspect that your oak has contracted P. ramorum? Unfortunately, this particular fungus is virtually unstoppable once it takes hold. The best method of stopping it is through preventative tree care and using best practices when it comes to your oak trees.

Here are some useful tips for tree care when it comes to preventing P. ramorum:

  • Always allow at least 15 feet between the trunk of your oak to another oak or susceptible species

  • Protect your oak trees by spraying them with Agri-fos, which is a preventative fungicide that’s critical to oak tree care; contact a certified arborist near you to perform this service

  • If you live in an area that has known cases of P. ramorum, do NOT plant any new oak trees in the ground

Remember, when in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact an expert for tree care or other services.  

Are You in Need of Tree Service or Preventative Care from a Certified Arborist Near You? Contact Arb Tech Today!

Now that you know a little bit more about tree fungi, how it spreads, and the signs to look for, the next step is to contact a certified arborist near you to get your oak trees the preventative tree care they need. Tree care in Kansas City is critical because diseases and fungi can spread quickly, if you’re not careful.

Some of the tree services offered by Arb Tech include:

  • Tree pruning

  • Tree removal

  • Cabling and bracing

  • Tree planting

  • Tree risk assessment (ideal for detecting P. ramorum)

Arb Tech tree surgeons are ISA tree risk assessment qualified, which means we’re experts in identifying P. ramorum and other diseases and fungi that may infect your trees. Additionally, we can perform treatments and/or put preventative measures in place for trees that are at risk during your tree service.

To book Arb Tech for any of the tree services we provide, simply reach out by email via our contact form or call us directly at (913) 954-7004.

Dallas Stephens