(Des Moines)– Natural resources officials say a blight has been killing Bur Oaks in Iowa.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials say the blight has been killing Bur Oaks in Iowa since the early 2000’s. Officials say the blight poses a bigger threat to oaks than the Emerald Ash Borer poses to ash trees or gypsy moths to other trees.
Experts say blight symptoms include a V-shaped brown discoloration of leaves and browning veins in July and August. The leaf loss can kill branches and entire trees.
Bur Oaks are native to all of Iowa and are especially common in the Iowa Great Lakes. Officials say the blight has spread to more than half of Iowa’s counties.
Salvage cuts and fungicide are being used in the fight against the blight.
(From the Associated Press).
