Identification

• Live oak trees are susceptible to oak wilt disease or live oak decline. The United States Department of Agriculture cites the disease as among the most serious tree diseases in the country. Oak wilt is caused by Ceratocystis fagacearum.
  
  

Damage

• Initial symptoms of disease include the yellowing of veins that gradually turn brown and fall. With defoliation, the tree crown starts to thin. Affected trees wilt and die rapidly or slowly and completely decline over a period of one to six months. The disease spreads to healthy trees through roots or through insects like sap beetles.
  
  

Management

• There is no fungicidal control for the disease. Take preventative measures like avoiding damage to roots and bark. Remove infected trees entirely with roots and dispose of wood by chipping. Avoid storing infected tree wood near healthy trees.