Luther College is taking steps to save its oak trees

There's a "fungus among us" oak trees on the Luther College campus.

An arborist has determined that around two dozen oak trees on campus are suffering from "oak wilt."  The Iowa State University Extension program says, "Oak wilt is a serious disease that can infect many oak species. It is caused by the fungus, Ceratocystis fagacearum. Red oaks are very susceptible to the oak wilt fungus and can die within 4-6 weeks. White and bur oaks are moderately resistant to the disease. Trees can be infected by the fungus through root grafts or by beetle vectors that carry spores to newly wounded trees."

Luther College staffers have agreed upon a three-pronged approach.  Two trees that were too distressed to treat have been removed.  However, no further trees will be taken down for now.

Around two dozen other trees near Olin, Valders and Noble Hall will either have damaged limbs trimmed or will be treated.  As the ISU Extension Office states, "Fungicide injections are now available to protect healthy trees from the disease. Infected trees can also be treated, but a tree with (too much) crown loss has little chance for survival."  Luther College staffers, however, are optimistic their oak trees can be saved.

Oak wilt is quite a problem in the Midwest. Click on this map for a larger image that shows how Iowa is at the center of the problem