Oak trees dying - Ask Extension
How do I prevent additional (white?) Oak trees dying on my property?
Knowledgebase
Oak trees dying #448432
Asked April 19, 2018, 7:49 AM EDT
How do I prevent additional (white?) Oak trees dying on my property?
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Oaks are dying all over the region. There is not one cause. For such a situation to occur over many species of oaks and a wide area, it is probably an environmental problem--more drought, higher summer temperatures are a possibility. Also, gypsy moths may have weakened some trees in the past. There is no single disease or insect that is causing this.
Some oaks are dying of bacterial leaf scorch, but this is not common on white oaks. Oak wilt is not active in Maryland generally. Here is more about those diseases: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/why-oak-trees-are-declining
If your oaks are in a natural area, you may well be fighting an overpopulation of deer that are eating all the oak seedlings that come up. In order to replace your lost trees as they would naturally replace themselves, put wire fencing around some of the seedlings to save them so they can replace the lost trees.
ECN
Some oaks are dying of bacterial leaf scorch, but this is not common on white oaks. Oak wilt is not active in Maryland generally. Here is more about those diseases: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/why-oak-trees-are-declining
If your oaks are in a natural area, you may well be fighting an overpopulation of deer that are eating all the oak seedlings that come up. In order to replace your lost trees as they would naturally replace themselves, put wire fencing around some of the seedlings to save them so they can replace the lost trees.
ECN
Are the trees in the provided photos White Oaks?
If yes, why are only white oaks dying?
Could Japanese Stiltgrass be a cause of the trees dying ?
If yes, why are only white oaks dying?
Could Japanese Stiltgrass be a cause of the trees dying ?
Can't determine if they are white oaks. You can send us photos of the leaves for an id.
White oaks are not the only oaks dying. Actually, chestnut oaks are one of the primary species that is dying.
We have no research that suggests a connection with Japanese stiltgrass (though it is certainly killing many forest floor native plants and should be eliminated if you can do it.)
ECN
White oaks are not the only oaks dying. Actually, chestnut oaks are one of the primary species that is dying.
We have no research that suggests a connection with Japanese stiltgrass (though it is certainly killing many forest floor native plants and should be eliminated if you can do it.)
ECN
