08/26/2026
Erik’s in Philly. Let’s see what he’s spotted…
Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease caused by Bretziella fagacearum. The fungus invades an oak tree’s vascular system, interfering with its ability to transport water from the roots into the canopy.
All oak species can be affected, but trees in the red oak group, including northern red oak, pin oak, scarlet oak and black oak, are particularly vulnerable. Once infected, red oaks can decline very rapidly and may die within weeks to several months.
White oaks tend to be somewhat more resistant and may decline over a period of years rather than weeks.
What Should Rochester Area Homeowners Look For?
This time of year is especially important for identifying possible oak wilt because symptoms often become noticeable during the summer.
Watch your oak trees for:
* Sudden wilting during the summer
* Leaves turning brown along their outer edges
* Leaves dropping while portions of them are still green
* An unusual amount of leaf drop in July or August
* Rapid thinning of the canopy
* Branch dieback beginning near the top of the tree
One of the most noticeable signs is an oak that suddenly begins dropping large numbers of leaves during the middle of summer.
These symptoms don’t automatically mean a tree has oak wilt. Drought stress, root problems, insects and other diseases can produce similar symptoms. However, with a confirmed case now present in Monroe County, unusual summer decline in an oak deserves attention.
That’s good tree stuff. 🚛🪚🌳
