Oak decline in central Michigan

[Neill]

Wow the oaks are in major decline around here, especially the red oaks.
I found this article that details the complex fairly well

https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/OakHealth_InNewaygoCo.pdf

Does anyone have any additional insights?

 

[pcpTR33]

Spongy (gypsy) moth DECIMATED us from flint to port Austin in 21, I mean miles of complete defoliation by mid June. The stress of that mixed with our changing weather patterns (lack of rain, warmer than average winters allowing for constant fungal/ bacterial growth) would be my best guess, I’m not sure what everyone else is doing but I also don’t like or believe the new oak wilt “season” I still only trim when it’s below 45 for consecutive days.
I don’t know if it’s like it in the center of the state but Dutch Elm Disease has been absolutely ripping through SE Michigan here it’s sad, I’ve come across two absolute giants that were flagging hard and it was too late for treatment.

 

[Neill]

Spongy (gypsy) moth DECIMATED us from flint to port Austin in 21, I mean miles of complete defoliation by mid June. The stress of that mixed with our changing weather patterns (lack of rain, warmer than average winters allowing for constant fungal/ bacterial growth) would be my best guess, I’m not sure what everyone else is doing but I also don’t like or believe the new oak wilt “season” I still only trim when it’s below 45 for consecutive days.
I don’t know if it’s like it in the center of the state but Dutch Elm Disease has been absolutely ripping through SE Michigan here it’s sad, I’ve come across two absolute giants that were flagging hard and it was too late for treatment.

That’s helpful information and context and lines up with what I’ve been hearing from locals about the decline of the oaks. I’m in Mecosta County, which Oak wilt has not been reported in, but I’m betting that is simply because no one has sent in a sample.

 

[Tuebor]

Spongy (gypsy) moth DECIMATED us from flint to port Austin in 21, I mean miles of complete defoliation by mid June. The stress of that mixed with our changing weather patterns (lack of rain, warmer than average winters allowing for constant fungal/ bacterial growth) would be my best guess, I’m not sure what everyone else is doing but I also don’t like or believe the new oak wilt “season” I still only trim when it’s below 45 for consecutive days.
I don’t know if it’s like it in the center of the state but Dutch Elm Disease has been absolutely ripping through SE Michigan here it’s sad, I’ve come across two absolute giants that were flagging hard and it was too late for treatment.

I'm in Metro Detroit and just lost an elm in my backyard in August. Lots of dead or dying elms in this area this year. I thought it was the heat and drought itself, but maybe that's stressing the trees enough that they are more susceptible to DED. Now I'm starting to see large oaks with thinning crowns more than ever.

 

[Neill]

Ouch! Hate to hear that Elms are succumbing too. There seems to be a lot of Siberian elm around here that are generally problematic, but I have not noticed any American or red elms.
I’m trying to learn up on needlecast diseases in various conifers too, that is something that I’m not well versed in but I am noticing a lot of declining spruce as well

We drove to Ludington a few weeks back to visit the lake and some forested sections along the way appeared to have massive dead stands of oaks, mortality was high

 

[chipper1]

I also don’t like or believe the new oak wilt “season” I still only trim when it’s below 45 for consecutive days.

Not sure exactly what you mean by this sentence.
I don't doubt the existence of oak wilt, but I've only been on one site that I believed it could have been caused by it (in Kentwood SE of downtown GR). Other than that, every site I've been told was oak wilt, had some sort of soil compaction under the drip line. I personally killed a couple at our place this way right near where I built my woodshed. Mine were also during a very dry yr, not nearly as dry as this yr has been though.

I’m in Mecosta County, which Oak wilt has not been reported in, but I’m betting that is simply because no one has sent in a sample.

Or, it wasn't oak wilt that caused them to die.
No-one who has claimed that oak wilt was the cause near me greater GR area, has tested.
It just seems odd that trees everywhere aren't dead(from oak wilt) because of all the line clearing yr around and the road crews running masticators on everything all summer.
As @pcpTR33 was saying, the gypsy moths tore everything up for a couple yrs. From what I've observed, if they do that a few yrs in a row, the trees have a higher chance of dying.

 

[pcpTR33]

I was referring to the MIDNR guidelines for oak wilt which changed a little while ago which now is April 15th through July 15th which from what I’ve read is based upon sapbeetle breeding/feeding season. DTE used to issue its own oak season dates but now it’s open season unless in a “high risk” or known oak wilt area.