Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Thursday - April 26, 2012
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Trees
Title: Need help with a fungal disease in oak trees in Austin, TX
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
Two adjacent oak trees in my yard are showing distinct symptoms of Sudden Oak Death. Most notably, the lowest ten feet of their trunks have several bleeding cankers with thick, tarry ooze and no accompanying smell. A quick bit of research online shows that SOD isn't a known issue here in Austin, or really in the central US as a whole. Who should I contact to get a diagnosis, and how do I protect my nearby trees from contracting whatever this is? Thanks for the advice!ANSWER:
Since SOD is more of a California, Oregon disease, Mr. Smarty Plants is thinking that you may be dealing with Hypoxylon in your oak trees.
Check the pictures in these links to aggie-horticulture and the Texas Forest Service to see if they resemble your trees.
For some expert advice about your oak trees, I suggest that you contact the Travis County Office of the Texas Forest Service, and/or the Travis County Office of Texas Agrilife Extension .
In the mean time, you might want to check out this web site to learn more about oak wilt, and this aggie-horticulture site to learn more about live oak decline.
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Cool, wet summer effect on evergreen sumac
August 28, 2007 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have 3 evergreen sumac bushes that I planted as a screen between my house and my neighbors two years ago. They are located in a part of our yard that receives a lot of runof...
view the full question and answer
Improving blooming on mock orange
March 03, 2008 - I have a now 6 yr. old mock orange shrub in the garden which has never bloomed, darn it. I have fed, not fed, mulched, not mulched, sheared, not sheared. What gives? Will it ever bloom, or shall I ...
view the full question and answer
Corona de Cristo, guest or pest?
July 12, 2008 - We have had two recent speakers at the Austin Butterfly Forum with differing views as to whether Passiflora foetida is invasive in Texas. One believes that it's well-behaved and a a great butterfly ...
view the full question and answer
Declining wax myrtles in Katy, TX
August 24, 2009 - My wax myrtle bushes were thick and green except for a few on the NE side 6 months ago when we bought the house. Now they are thin, leggy, and dropping leaves like crazy. They seem to be dying one bra...
view the full question and answer
Clear pungent, liquid oozing from oak tree
June 28, 2010 - I have a large oak that over the last few days has been oozing a pungent, non sticky, clear substance from one specific site (no damage) about the size of a dime. It's attracting quite a few gnats, m...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
