Now is a safe time to trim your oak trees.
Sarnia's parks and forestry manager Patti Ross is recommending that work on oak trees be done this fall, or winter, to help prevent them from falling victim to oak wilt.
"So far it has not been detected in Ontario," said Ross. "We had a couple of calls from concerned citizens this season. We went out and inspected it and met with a CFIA [Canadian Food Inspection Agency] spokesperson and it was not oak wilt."
Oak wilt has surfaced across the river in St. Clair County, Michigan and Belle Isle Park, Michigan near Windsor.
The fungal disease spreads by insects of tree root connections, and can kill trees rapidly in a single season.
Ross said it could be very devastating in north end areas of the city.
Trimming is not recommended from April to the end of July, because the fungus is more likely to be transmitted by bugs during that time.
Ross said oak wilt predominantly affects red and black oaks -- white oaks are a bit more resistant.
