Unlike other tree services, we don’t cut trees down — we try to save them!
Oak wilt is a destructive fungal disease that poses a serious threat to the beautiful oak trees in the Buffalo area. This fast-spreading infection can kill a healthy tree in just a few weeks. While the disease hasn’t been confirmed in Buffalo as of August 2025, it has been found just across the border in Ontario and south of Rochester, so it’s getting closer. The good news is that early detection and proactive treatment, such as tree vaccination, can save valuable oaks.
What is Oak Wilt and How Does it Spread?
Oak wilt is caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum. It enters a tree and clogs its water-conducting tissues, effectively cutting off its water supply. This leads to rapid wilting and death. The fungus primarily affects red oaks, which can die in a single season, while white oaks may decline more slowly over several years.
The disease spreads in a few key ways:
• Root Grafts: The fungus can travel underground through interconnected root systems between nearby trees.
• Beetles: Sap-feeding beetles can carry fungal spores from an infected tree to fresh wounds on a healthy one, especially from April to July.
• Improper Pruning: Pruning oaks in the spring or early summer creates open wounds that attract these beetles, increasing the risk of infection.
• Contaminated Tools: Fungal spores can be transferred from tree to tree on uncleaned pruning equipment.
How to Spot the Signs of Oak Wilt in Buffalo
Since early detection is crucial, it’s important to know what to look for. Keep an eye out for these signs of infection:
• Sudden Wilting and Browning: Look for leaves that turn brown from the tips inward, starting from the top of the tree. Unlike seasonal changes, these leaves will often stay attached to the branches.
• Fungal Mats: During Spring and Summer, you might see horizontal cracks in the bark. Underneath, a gray or brown fungal mat with a sweet, fruity smell (like Juicy Fruit gum) may be present, which attracts beetles.
• Rapid Canopy Thinning: Red oaks will quickly lose their leaves at the top of the tree, with bare spots appearing and growing throughout the summer.
• Distinctive Leaf Browning: Infected leaves brown from the edges inward toward the central veins, which is different from the uniform browning seen with drought or the spotted patterns of other diseases.
If you suspect your tree may have oak wilt, text us photos at 716-273-5522.
Why Tree Injection is the Best Treatment
When it comes to protecting your trees in Buffalo, tree injection is a superior method to traditional spraying. It’s a precise and effective way to deliver a protective fungicide (like propiconazole) directly into a tree’s vascular system.
Here’s why tree injection is the preferred method:
• Targeted and Efficient: The fungicide is injected directly into the tree’s system, ensuring it reaches all parts of the tree and provides a strong, internal defense. Spraying only coats the surface and is less effective against a systemic disease like oak wilt.
• Environmentally Friendly: Tree injection minimizes chemical drift, which reduces the risk to surrounding plants, animals, and water sources.
• Long-Lasting Protection: A single injection can provide protection for 2-3 years, whereas sprays may wash away and need more frequent reapplication.
• Weather-Independent: Tree injections can be performed in any weather, unlike sprays that are affected by wind and rain.
• Safer for People and Pets: By avoiding airborne chemicals, injections reduce health risks for everyone on your property.
Work with Local WNY Experts
At Saving Oaks, our state-licensed applicators use a precise injection method using specially formulated fungicides designed to stop oak wilt in its tracks. We call it “tree vaccination” and that’s exactly what it is — a way to protect your valuable oak trees and landscape. Our business is built entirely on protecting and preserving trees.
Don’t wait for oak wilt to strike. Be proactive and protect your oaks now.
To learn more about how to protect your trees from oak wilt or to schedule a quote, contact us today by calling or texting 716-273-5522.
