Oak Wilt tree replacement

Here in the Texas Hill Country our most endearing and common trees are the live oak and red oak. Unfortunately a disease known as Oak Wilt is threatening to denude our lanscape of the most stalwart and long lived of the species.  In the local Austin area I've seen entire neighborhoods devasted in as little as three weeks time. Mighty oaks, growing since the 1900's have fallen victim to this incidious, creeping devastator. If you check the incidence map at www.texasoakwilt.org you'll see that Travis County is at the heart of the problem.

There is no known cure for oak wilt but fortunately it's easy to prevent. Keep a can of pruning paint in your garage or under the sink. No matter what time of year you cut branches or a wound appears spray it immediately. Within two days of an open cut, the beetle responsible for spreading the pathogen can make it's home and you'll never know until the tree begins to die.

If you're planning to garden or landscape a new home, consider avoiding the problem completely by planting a hardwood that cannot be affected by Oak Wilt. Choose a variety with similar growth and appearance and you won't waste your landscaping dollars on something risky in central Texas.

Check out this link for the full story:  www.texasoakwilt.org

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