Next year, the circle of dead trees enlarges by about 25 feet in all directions as the fungus spread through connected roots. The satellite infection center also grow at 25 feet per year and oft3en merge with the original infection center. Construction and storm damage increase disease spread Insects carry the oak wilt fungus to wounded trees in spring and early summer. Unfortunately, this is the time when construction activities occur. Oak wilt gets carried to the wounded oaks and then spread to nearby oaks in the next few years.
Heavy storms break branches and damage oak trees.
The damaging storms of 1997 and 1998 doubled the acreage of oak wilt in Sherburne County. How oak wilt is controlled Existing infection centers can be controlled by severing roots between infected and healthy trees with a vibratory plow. New infection centers can be indirectly prevented through public education about pruning, and construction damage through focused educational efforts, such as, the Best Management Practices for Conserving Wooded Areas in Developing Communities. The local unit of government then offers participation in the oak wilt suppression program to interested landowners. Infection centers are verified by the local forester.