Tree with sunlight streaming (Photo credit: Dawn Gagnon)Trees in the south have to be strong. They face environmental stresses that can take them down quickly or have them struggling for centuries. Many diseases prey on trees that have been damaged from lightening strikes, wind, heat, and low rainfall averages.
Oak trees are no exception, and botanists and homeowners alike have seen an acceleration of death taking place with the giant oak trees and it is due to the fungus hypoxylon canker. Unfortunately, once there is signs of this fungus present on your tree, it is too late to do anything to save the tree.
If the tree is large and next to a structure, it is a good idea to have it removed as the fungus will eventually make the branches weak and damage to any surrounding structures will occur.
