How to Remove a Tree With Oak Wilt

Prevent causing wounds in your tree, which leaves them susceptible to oak wilt by taking great care when mowing around them.

According to Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, oak wilt has debilitated the oak tree population. Oak trees can spread this disease either through their root systems or by nitidulid beetles. The highly infections spores from an oak with oak wilt accumulates on the beetles' backs, which they then transmit when eating another oak tree. Symptoms of the disease include discoloration of leaves, dieback of branches and defoliation. Because there is no fungicide that can cure this disease, removal for the health of your other oak trees is imperative.

Things You'll Need

• Chainsaw
• Landscaping bar
• Pruning saw
• Tarp
• Dirt

Instructions

1. Remove anything surrounding the oak tree that can become damaged when it falls in the area. Cars, potted plants and lawn furniture should be moved away from the area. Examine the tree to judge the best direction for it to fall. Pick a side that it is leaning or has the most foliage and branches.

2. Walk over to the side where you want your tree to fall. Make a top cut that is at a 35-degree angle into 80 percent of the tree diameter with a chainsaw.

3. Make a bottom cut underneath the top cut at a 35-degree angle and meets the top cut. You should have a V-shape in the tree when you are finished. Walk behind the tree for your final cut.

4. Cut through 10 percent of the tree right above the notch you have created in the tree. Run away at this point. Avoid sticking around for the tree to start splitting and falling.

5. Water the area around the stump of the tree. Dig a trench 1 foot away around the root system and push a landscaping bar underneath the stump. Water the area and use a pruning saw to cut up stubborn roots that will not budge from the ground. Lift your stump from underneath. Wait for your roots and tree to dry.

6. Break up the tree with your chainsaw, so that it is cut into manageable pieces. Put your oak tree pieces into a pile. Lay a tarp over the pieces and dump soil on top of the edges of the tarp. Allow the tarp to remain on the oak to kill off the fungus for six months before removing.

Tips & Warnings

• Invite a friend to accompany you when you fell your oak tree in case anything goes wrong.

• Avoid skipping the drying process when removing an oak that has died from oak wilt, because the exposed wood can continually infect other trees.

References

• Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry: How to Identify, Prevent and Control Oak Wilt
• Timber Green Forestry: Felling an Oak
• University of Missouri: Felling and Bucking and Limbing Trees