Ramsey Resident - 2013 - May/June

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Oak Wilt Season is Here Oak Wilt is a devastating disease of oak trees caused cal. Wood can be disposed of by chipping, debark- by a fungus that moves through the vascular system of a JOH EJċDVMU PSDVUUJOHJOUPđSFXPPETJ[FQJFDFT tree. As a defense mechanism, an infected oak tree will stacking, and covering with a thick (4 mil or greater) plug up the water conducting vessels to try and stop the black plastic sheet for the GVOHVTGSPNTQSFBEJOHăJTBDUVBMMZQSFWFOUTXBUFSfollowing full growing from the roots reaching the leaves and ultimately results TFBTPOăFFEHFTPGUIF JOUIFEFBUIPGBUSFFăFQSJNBSZTZNQUPNTPGPBLXJMUplastic should actually be are the wilting of leaves buried in the ground a from the top of the tree couple inches to create a down, from the edge tight seal (to trap poten- of the leaf toward the tial spores from moving to middle, and a premature other trees). dropping of leaves. All More information about oak wilt can be found oaks in this area are on the city’s website at www.cityoframsey.com/ susceptible to oak wilt; environmental-services. If you have a concern about infected red and pin oak wilt or any other tree related issues, please con- oaks can die within just a few weeks of infection while tact Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator white and bur oaks are somewhat more resistant and can Chris Anderson at 763-433-9905 or canderson@ survive for a year or several years before dying. ci.ramsey.mn.us. ăFCFTUXBZUPNJOJNJ[FUIFDIBODFPGJOGFD tion with oak wilt is to not prune oak trees from April through July (or later if possible). During that time is when the insects that can move the fungus around are most active. If there is an imminent safety threat from an oak tree, it should obviously be addressed and corrected, but otherwise, you should avoid trimming any oaks during this time. If you must trim oaks during this time, a wound sealant should be applied to the cut surface within 15 minutes of making the cut to create a barrier between the tree and insects that may be carrying oak wilt spores. Controlling oak wilt is best done by disrupting potentially connected root systems with a vibratory plow (oak wilt can move between trees that have connected SPPUT "OPUIFSFĈFDUJWFCVUTMJHIUMZNPSFFYQFOTJWF option is a chemical injection for healthy trees. It’s im- portant to understand that this treatment method only lasts for two (2) years. If you do have a tree infected with oak wilt, proper disposal of the diseased wood is criti- 12 Ramsey Resident • May/June 2013