Bur oak blight is showing up on oaks across the Metro East right now, and it's easy to mistake for normal late-summer stress. Look for wedge-shaped brown patches spreading out from the leaf veins on bur oaks around Moro, Bethalto, and Edwardsville.
This isn't a one-season problem. The fungus overwinters in fallen leaves and can reinfect the same tree year after year, gradually thinning the canopy and weakening the branch structure if it goes unmanaged.
Riverbend has been checking properties in the area for early signs over the past few weeks. Identifying it now, while the leaves are still on the tree, gives homeowners more options than waiting until the damage is more advanced.
If your bur oak's leaves look off this year, it's worth having someone take a look before the tree goes into dormancy.
#TreeHealth #BurOakBlight #MetroEastIL #Arborist #MoroIL
Close-up job photo of bur oak leaves showing blight symptoms, paired with a wider canopy shot from a recent property visit.
Canva text suggestion: "Bur Oak Blight Is Here" or "Check Your Oaks This Week"