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Hypoxylon Canker on Drought-Stressed Central Texas Oaks

Rapid bark loss on drought-stressed oaks suggests Hypoxylon canker. The fungus invades stressed trees, causing bark sloughing, whitish then black crusty cankers. No chemical cure exists.

Management: deep watering during drought, avoid root damage and fill soil, prune only in dormancy. Contact Texas A&M Forest Service for a free forester visit. Severely infected trees should be removed to reduce spore spread.

Trees: Oak Trunk Green/White Growth: Lichens, Not Disease; Oak Decline After Paving: Root Damage and Recovery Plan; Oak Wilt vs. Oak Root Rot: Diagnosis and Long-Term Management; Oak Trunk Decay: Management and Structural Support; Black Wet Areas on Oak Trunk: Borer Damage, Not Fatal; Diagnosing and Managing Hypoxylon Canker in Oak Trees; Oak Tree Seed Drop and Leaf Shed: Normal Cycles; Oak Tree Bark Shedding: Causes and What to Do; Cypress Bark Peeling: Normal Aging or Cause for Concern?; Why Oak Trees Shed Bark: Natural Growth or Smooth Patch Disease

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