Live oak decline or oak wilt as it is commonly called is a serious fungal disease that will eventually kill any tree that it infects. Live oak decline is spreading around the nation, killing trees that are often over a hundred years old.

Once live oak decline or oak wilt fungus infects a tree there is little you can do. There are very expensive chemicals that can prolong the life of the tree but it will never fully recover.

Live oak decline or oak wilt is spread by insects that take the fungus from infected wood to a living tree which often has an open wound. If you prune, do so in the dead of winter and use an arborist approved tree salve to seal the open wound.

If trees nearby have oak wilt you may need to dig a trench to sever the roots that connect all oak trees to other oaks nearby.