The most common questions our ISA Certified Arborists hear about oak wilt, tree disease, and plant health care in North Texas. If your question isn’t answered below, give us a call — we’re happy to talk before you book anything.
What is oak wilt and why is it so dangerous in Texas?
Oak wilt is a deadly fungal disease (Bretziella fagacearum) that attacks oak trees by clogging their water-conducting vessels. In Texas it spreads aggressively through interconnected root systems and by sap-feeding beetles. Live oaks and red oaks are most vulnerable — red oaks can die in as little as 4 to 6 weeks, while live oaks decline more slowly but spread the disease underground to neighboring trees. Without treatment, an entire oak grove can be lost in 1 to 3 years.
How do I know if my tree has oak wilt?
Early signs include leaves with brown or bronze tips, leaf veins turning yellow then brown (veinal necrosis is the classic live oak symptom), sudden leaf drop in mid-summer, and dying branches in the upper canopy. Red oaks often show fungal spore mats under loose bark in spring. Because other diseases mimic these symptoms, the only definitive diagnosis is a lab test of fresh wood samples — which Oakwilt.org will collect during a consultation.
Can oak wilt be cured?
There is no cure that eliminates the fungus from an infected tree. However, our ISA Certified Arborists can save many infected trees and protect uninfected neighbors using Texas A&M-recommended trunk injections of Alamo propiconazole. Treatment is most effective on live oaks caught early and on healthy oaks within 50 feet of an infected tree.
How much does oak wilt treatment cost in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Oak wilt treatment is priced by tree diameter (DBH — diameter at breast height) and the volume of fungicide required. Most residential treatments fall between $250 and $1,500 per tree, with larger heritage live oaks at the higher end. We provide free on-site quotes — there are no hidden fees and no charge for the consultation itself.
When is the best time to treat oak wilt in Texas?
The two ideal treatment windows in North Texas are late winter through early spring (February to April) before the tree’s spring flush, and again in October to early November. Treating outside these windows is still possible but uptake of the fungicide is slower. We avoid the hot summer months when transpiration is too high for proper distribution.
How does Oakwilt.org actually inject a tree?
We use low-volume macro-infusion with pressurized canisters, the method recommended by Texas A&M Forest Service, the ISA, and the TCIA. Small holes are drilled at the root flare, sealed plastic tees are inserted, and Alamo propiconazole is gently pressurized into the vascular system. The whole process takes 1 to 3 hours per tree depending on size, and the tee plugs are removed at the end leaving only small healed openings.
Is the fungicide you inject safe for kids, pets, and pollinators?
Yes. Propiconazole is contained within the tree’s vascular system — it doesn’t drift, doesn’t leach into soil, and isn’t sprayed in the air. The EPA classifies it for restricted use by licensed applicators and we follow all label requirements. We do not treat trees in bloom to further protect pollinators.
What other tree diseases does Oakwilt.org treat?
Besides oak wilt, our arborists routinely treat bacterial leaf scorch, hypoxylon canker, anthracnose, oak leaf blister, rapid oak decline, sudden oak death, crown gall, Dutch elm disease and several other foliage and vascular diseases common in North Texas. See our tree diseases page for the full list.
Do you treat trees besides oaks?
Yes. While oak wilt is our specialty, we provide plant health care for all tree species — pecans, elms, magnolias, maples, crepe myrtles, fruit trees and ornamentals. Our services include disease and insect management, deep-root fertilization, and arborist consultation.
What is plant health care and how is it different from regular tree service?
Plant health care (PHC) is the ongoing, preventive management of a tree’s overall health — soil, nutrition, pests, disease and structure — by a trained arborist. Traditional tree services focus on cutting (trimming and removal) after a problem already exists. Oakwilt.org focuses on PHC: keeping the trees you have alive and thriving instead of waiting until they need to come down.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes. Every initial property visit and consultation is free and no-obligation. Our ISA Certified Arborist will walk your property, identify any visible issues, and give you an honest assessment — including a written quote if treatment is recommended.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Oakwilt.org operates under ISA Certified Arborist credentials, is fully insured and bonded, and is an active member of the International Society of Arboriculture. We provide proof of insurance on request before any work begins.
How long until I see results after oak wilt treatment?
Most healthy oaks show stabilization within 60 to 90 days post-injection — new growth holds its color, leaf drop slows, and decline halts. Trees with significant existing dieback may continue to lose some affected branches, but the disease itself stops progressing. We recommend follow-up inspections at 6 and 12 months to confirm response.
How often do I need to repeat tree injections?
Preventive injections in healthy oaks typically last 24 months. Therapeutic injections in actively infected trees are usually repeated annually for 2 to 3 years, then transitioned to a preventive schedule. We keep treatment records for every client and remind you when you’re due.
Can I do oak wilt treatment myself?
Over-the-counter root drenches and untrained trunk injections almost universally fail and often kill the tree faster by introducing pathogens through poorly drilled holes. The Alamo propiconazole formulation requires restricted-use credentials, pressurized equipment, and trained placement at the root flare. Self-treatment is one of the leading reasons trees that could have been saved are lost.
Do you offer warranties on treatment?
Treatment outcomes depend on factors outside any arborist’s control (existing infection severity, soil conditions, weather), so we don’t warrant disease eradication. We do guarantee that the treatment is performed correctly per Texas A&M protocol, and if a treated tree dies within the first growing season under documented care, we’ll re-treat any adjacent oaks at no additional cost.
What areas in North Texas do you serve?
We cover the entire Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Parker, Hood, Johnson, and Ellis counties, including outlying cities like Granbury, Glen Rose, Stephenville, Meridian and Weatherford.
How do I schedule a consultation?
Call the line for your area: Fort Worth (817) 799-7808, Granbury (817) 778-8357, Weatherford (817) 345-7992, Stephenville (254) 655-6697, Glen Rose (254) 269-4870, or Meridian (817) 799-7101. Or fill out the contact form and we’ll reach out the same business day.