Acute oak decline (AOD) is a condition known to be affecting several thousand oak trees, mostly across East Anglia, the Midlands and Southern England.
AOD can be identified by dark fluid oozing from cracks in the bark, rapid decline of the tree, and tree mortality. Death of affected trees can occur within four or five years of symptoms first becoming visible. Many affected trees also have the characteristic D-shaped exit holes of the buprestid, or oak jewel beetle, in the bark.
General advice is to leave infected trees in place and monitor them unless they pose an immediate threat to safety. Contact with bleeds should be kept to a minimum to reduce the risk of transferring the disease from tree to tree. If only a small number of trees appear to be infected on a site, and most are of the same oak species, it may be advisable to fell and destroy the infected trees.
Elmbridge Tree Services is pleased to offer advice as well as tree removal services as appropriate.
For more information visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/asianlonghornbeetle.
