Everybody must cooperate and tolerate the removal of fences, shrubs, outbuildings, etc. It protects the tree from infection but does not stop the spread of the disease or cure the infected tree. Prevent the diseases spread by painting all wounds on live oaks and red oaks. Keep a spray can of pruning paint in your garage to immediately paint any wound on your trees. Pruning, weed-eater and machinery cuts on the trunk and exposed roots are especially susceptible to infection.
Sap beetles carry the disease spores from an infected red oak to the wound on a live or red oak.
The paint stops them. Every minute you wait after the wound occurs increases the chance of infection. The first two days are most critical. We no longer say there are windows of safety because of cold weather or hot weather. Firewood from red oaks can also rarely be a source of the oak wilt infection.