If an oak in your yard has patches of bark sloughing off to reveal a tan or silvery gray crust underneath, it deserves a closer look.
That crust is a common sign of hypoxylon canker, a fungus that lives quietly in many oaks and takes hold once a tree is weakened by drought, root damage, or construction. After dry summer stretches, it shows up more often across Alexandria and Northern Virginia.
By the time the fungus is visible, the wood underneath is often decaying, and the tree can turn brittle faster than it looks. Infected oaks near homes, driveways, and sidewalks warrant an assessment.
A certified arborist from Dos Amigos Tree Experts can check how far the decay has spread and explain whether pruning, monitoring, or removal makes sense. Nearby healthy oaks benefit from watering in dry spells and protecting their root zones.
#NorthernVirginia #OakTrees #TreeHealth #CertifiedArborist
A close-up photo of sloughing oak bark with the gray fungal crust visible, ideally from a local job. Authentic photos beat stock disease images.
Canva text suggestion: "Gray Crust Under Oak Bark? Take a Closer Look" or "Hypoxylon Canker: What NoVA Oak Owners Should Know"