A situation has arisen from a new client outside of town who needs help because much of his 11 acre wooded lot is being badly damaged by Hypoxylon canker. He said that his Blackjacks (which represent about 15 percent of the tree population) first started becoming symptomatic and dying about five years ago. The infection spread slowly to other blackjacks around his house and driveway.
Perhaps due to the severe drought of 2005-2006, the canker began to spread to and kill Post Oaks (which represent about 70 percent of the trees) in growing patches of forest near previously infected Blackjacks.
This season we had a very harsh late freeze in April that severely affected the Post Oaks. Many did not re-leaf out until May or even June. And, following that setback, the canker has spread enormously among the Post Oaks and Blackjacks on this property.
In the worst 3 acres or so around the house, every tree shows stress (thin foliage, partially or totally brown leaves, etc.). Many of the trees have leaves that are half brown, half green. (I will get some pictures soon.) Some of the Post Oaks have already died completely and did not leaf out this year.
The client wants to have the dead trees removed to prevent the continued spread. Of course, with so many trees showing symptoms, I wonder how much preventative impact will be realized. I surveyed the entire area (through horrendous ticks, chiggers, flies, and briars) and marked all trees that show less than half of the foliage healthy.
Has anyone battled this sort of problem on this scale and have some insight into which trees to remove, which to leave alone, which may recover, which trees are likely to infect others and when?
I have researched the canker and its life cycle and have read that once the bark falls off, exposing the fruiting bodies, spores are released, affecting new trees. The bark has fallen of the Blackjacks in patches, but it has not fallen off of the dead Post Oaks. So are there still spores being released? And if we have more normal weather in the coming years, what are the chances of recovery?
Thank you for any knowledge you are able to share.
Perhaps due to the severe drought of 2005-2006, the canker began to spread to and kill Post Oaks (which represent about 70 percent of the trees) in growing patches of forest near previously infected Blackjacks.
This season we had a very harsh late freeze in April that severely affected the Post Oaks. Many did not re-leaf out until May or even June. And, following that setback, the canker has spread enormously among the Post Oaks and Blackjacks on this property.
In the worst 3 acres or so around the house, every tree shows stress (thin foliage, partially or totally brown leaves, etc.). Many of the trees have leaves that are half brown, half green. (I will get some pictures soon.) Some of the Post Oaks have already died completely and did not leaf out this year.
The client wants to have the dead trees removed to prevent the continued spread. Of course, with so many trees showing symptoms, I wonder how much preventative impact will be realized. I surveyed the entire area (through horrendous ticks, chiggers, flies, and briars) and marked all trees that show less than half of the foliage healthy.
Has anyone battled this sort of problem on this scale and have some insight into which trees to remove, which to leave alone, which may recover, which trees are likely to infect others and when?
I have researched the canker and its life cycle and have read that once the bark falls off, exposing the fruiting bodies, spores are released, affecting new trees. The bark has fallen of the Blackjacks in patches, but it has not fallen off of the dead Post Oaks. So are there still spores being released? And if we have more normal weather in the coming years, what are the chances of recovery?
Thank you for any knowledge you are able to share.
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