As most of our Members in Highlands Ranch already know, but some of our newer Members who are not native Texans might not know, the Oak Wilt disease (a fungus) for oak trees is very dangerous and very prevalent.  Therefore, each of us must keep a watchful eye for its presence anywhere in our neighborhood (especially on our own property) and anywhere on properties adjacent to our properties (including those in neighboring subdivisions), and then inform the HOA Board if we suspect its presence anywhere in our area or even approaching from other communities.  REMEMBER, if we fail to control Oak Wilt in our community, it will eventually devalue everyone’s property.  For example, we already know that Country Bend on our west perimeter and Windwood Estates on part of our north perimeter have Oak Wilt.  Some of this has been treated and some has not.  Therefore, it will continue to spread toward our community.  Also, we know of at least two properties within our community that have had Oak Wilt.  On one internal Lot, the trees were infected with oak wilt either by tree trimmers with unclean tools or by beetles/woodpickers transferring it from one tree to others.  On the other perimeter Lot, the Oak Wilt crossed over from Country Bend through the trees’ root systems.  The trees on both Lots have been treated with the BioGreen formula (see following discussion).

Oak Wilt is a problem that each of us MUST take seriously.  If oak wilt spreads very much into our community, the values of all of our properties could be negatively affected.  This should get the attention of all of us!  Therefore, please pay attention to any trees that might appear to be infected.  To help you do this, read this brochure provided by the Texas A&M Forest Service or visit their website that gives more detail about the disease and what steps can be taken to avoid it and treat it once you have it. Three of the important cautions in their brochure are: (1) have cutting tools disinfected first before trimming trees; (2) have “every” cut sealed immediately; and (3) avoid trimming trees from February through June.  Another quick reference source can be found here. Please do not ignore this!

Two traditional treatments include (1) injection of fungicide into the base of the individual trees that are infected and (2) trenching around the infected trees to keep it from spreading to other trees through the root system.  For injections, this treatment must be done in a series of three, done about two years apart.  The service provider will charge for each series of injections.  Neither of these treatments have a guarantee. For trenching to possibly work, the trench must be at least 100 feet from the nearest infected trees.  This is why it is so important that we become aware of diseased trees before it gets within 100 feet of our properties—or our community perimeters.

A third treatment that has had success is the application of a proprietary formula of archaea microbes that is absorbed into the tree roots to remove the source of food for the Oak Wilt fungus.  This treatment can be obtained from BioGreen Tree Care, which offers a money-back guarantee or reapplication of the treatment as often as needed.  For more information on this treatment, visit their website. Photos of leaves showing Oak Wilt and more can be seen on the BioGreen website.

A fourth supplemental treatment that has had some success in keeping your trees healthy and possibly helping to prevent Oak Wilt is to regularly apply dried molasses and ground corn meal with gluten (“sick tree treatment”) around the base of your trees.

Also, please remember that no type of existing treatment is 100% guaranteed to stop all of the Oak Wilt.

Lastly, as a reminder, please read Article III.10 of the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (DCCR) which states, among other things, that is is the responsibility of each owner to treat Oak Wilt and other diseases on their Lot to ensure that diseases do not spread to other owners’ Lots.  DCCR Article XII gives the board authority to enforce all provisions, including curing a violation and charging the owner for the cost of curing and charging fines for violations.