Still Color… Thanks Oaks!

There’s still color out there thanks to the oaks!

Oaks, being the tough trees they are, wait to change colors after most other trees. Rather than the flashy hues of maples, oaks go for the warm reds, browns, and russets we associate with Thanksgiving. It’s primarily the oaks that are still providing some beautiful color around Devil’s Lake State Park in November.

Wisconsin has many oak species, including red oak, white oak, swamp white oak, bur oak, and black oak. Oaks are the superheroes of our forests – stronger and longer-lived than most Wisconsin trees. Our oaks take 20-50 years to mature and typically live 100-300 years, though some species may reach 600 years in ideal conditions! Oaks elsewhere have been known to live over 2,000 years!

Side Note: While seen as “tough” trees, oaks are increasingly falling victim to a fungus called Bretziella fagacearum. This fungal disease spreads through the tree’s water system, causing it to wilt and perish. We know this as oak wilt (First discovered in Wisconsin in 1944). Oak wilt enters new areas via beetles carrying spores to fresh wounds. Though still uncommon in northern Wisconsin, oak wilt has become widespread in southern and central parts of the state. To reduce the risk of infection or spread, it’s vital not to cut, prune, or wound oaks in spring through early summer when fresh live wood is most susceptible. Late fall and winter are safest for oak pruning.

Learn more about Oak Wilt – https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/foresthealth/oakwilt