All our old oak trees are getting large white patches on the bark and the bark is falling off. Are they sick or is this natural? If they are sick, can we save them?
Thank you for any info.
Extension
Message
From:
Jay Hayek
Extension Specialist, Forestry
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Hi Carole:
This is extremely common and non-lethal to oaks in the white oak family. It is called smooth patch and it is a relatively benign fungus that causes the bark on some white oaks to slough off. No treatment is neccesary, nor warranted.
