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City advised to avoid pruning live oaks Feb–June and to treat trees in mapped zones
Summary
Public Works shared Texas A&M Forest Service maps showing two oak-wilt clusters in Leon Valley and recommended homeowner action: avoid pruning Feb–June 30, paint fresh wounds immediately, consider trenching and injectable fungicide for high‑risk trees; city will publicize maps and host training.
Assistant Public Works Director David Dimeline presented an oak‑wilt update to the council on Nov. 18, describing the fungus’ biology, above‑ground beetle spread and below‑ground root graft transmission in live‑oak communities.
Dimeline showed mapping from Texas A&M Forest Service indicating two focused areas of infection (the Bluebird area and an area along Evers Road) and suggested treatment priorities: identify candidate trees in the immediate red and surrounding blue treatment bands; avoid pruning between Feb. 1 and June 30 when beetle activity and spore dispersal is highest; promptly paint fresh wounds with latex or tree‑wound sealant; and consider trenching to interrupt root‑graft spread where feasible. He noted that injectable fungicide treatments are an option for protecting healthy trees when recommended by an arborist.
The city previously trenched a line on Forest View; Dimeline said trenching held temporarily but the disease later advanced in nearby locations and that trench depth and root configurations can complicate success. The city will continue to coordinate with the Texas A&M Forest Service, distribute brochures and maps to affected neighborhoods, post information on social media and host additional trainings and outreach (including a manual pump residents may borrow from Public Works).
Council members asked about homeowner notification, cost and the availability of Texas A&M Forest Service visits for residents; staff recommended outreach through social media and the city newsletter rather than direct mail. Planning for a spring training and continued mapping was discussed; no formal action was required.
