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July 26, 2023Jefferson City, Mo. |  By: Jeremy Werner

MDC urges residents to watch out for oak wilt

oak tree

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Conservation has a warning for Missouri residents who have an oak tree on their property.

The MDC is asking people to keep an eye out for oak wilt, a destructive fungal disease. Symptoms can appear quickly, leading to the death of red oak species within a year.

Look out for browning leaves and rapid leaf loss in the upper branches. Differentiate oak wilt from oak decline by the persistence of brown leaves on the tree. Unfortunately, once symptoms show, the tree cannot be saved.

Act fast to protect nearby healthy oaks with fungicide injections and root treatments. To confirm oak wilt, send samples to the Plant Diagnostic Clinic. For prevention and management, visit mdc.mo.gov.