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White Oak lower branch die back #354895

Asked August 20, 2016, 1:39 PM EDT

My mature white oak has within the last 2 or 3 weeks experienced branches dying. It is on opposite sides of the tree. Leaves turn brown (see picture) on a whole branch and it dies. It has had a fungus (oak anthracnose) on the leaves in the past but new leaves would grow and branches were OK. This looks different.
Last year there was some storm damage to the tree.
See pictures.
What can I do?

County Wisconsin

Expert Response

So you could still be dealing with anthracnose - the spots are similar to what you'd see in an anthracnose infestation, and it's spread from the bottom out, inside out of the tree. Lower branches will have the symptoms first, and then they'll dry up and wilt. If things remain wet, as they have, then symptoms will continue into the fall and the summer. Usually this isn't a big problem, except that stress can bring in other disease and issues. I can't tell if there are any insect disease issues that normally come into stressed trees, like two-lined chestnut borer or armillaria root disease.

What's worrying me more is the potential of oak wilt. Oak wilt is not as common on white oaks, but if any branches have been tore off in a storm, then you have exposed wound wood that is perfect for bringing in the disease. Browning starts on the outside of the leaves and moves in, you'll see leaf drop, and there is dis-colorization in the sapwood. Whole branches tend look blighted, and you'd be noticing it now in the late summer. It's a bit slower moving in a white oak - but it's not very good to see.

Take a look at this publication and see if any of the symptoms match your oak: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/howtos/HowToRecognizeCommonDiseasesOaks.pdf

And, if it doesn't or you'd like more questions, then it'd be great to chat over the phone via your local extension office. That way we can ask lots of questions and find the root cause of your problem!


An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 24, 2016, 6:01 PM EDT
Thank you for your response. There was some anthracnose. The dying branches turned out to be "Two Lined Chestnut Borer".
The Question Asker Replied August 24, 2016, 11:03 PM EDT

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