Oak Wilt has become a serious problem in our Scenic Oaks subdivision. Trees infected with Oak Wilt may die if not treated. Treatment or removal of infected trees can not only be expensive but also lower the value of a home. Oak Wilt is a fungus that can be spread through the soil, sap beetles, and infected pruning tools that have not been cleaned.
As part of our effort to manage the spread of Oak Wilt, The Scenic Oaks Property Owners Association (SOPOA) has established an Oak Wilt Committee (OWC) to monitor the trimming of oak trees in Scenic Oaks.
To assist in this monitoring, a permit is required when tree trimming is performed by an outside vendor, including landscape maintenance vendors, in which oak trees are trimmed. As part of this permit process, a $500 bond is required. Once the tree trimming has been completed, the trees will be inspected and if the trimming complies with our tree trimming rules, the bond will be returned.
Contact the Oak Wilt Committee (OWC) at treetrimming@scenicoaks.org for any questions or for more information.
To get more information on Oak Wilt, go to The Texas Oak Wilt website https://texasoakwilt.org, a website rich in information and educational resources.
Other Useful Links:
Oak Wilt identification https://texasoakwilt.org/oakwilt/oak-wilt-identification
Quick Guide https://texasoakwilt.org/oakwilt/an-integrated-approach
A Texas Forest Agent is at your disposal to check your Oak Wilt situation upon request. Contact the OWC for more information.
Permits
Permits are required for all oak tree trimming in Scenic Oaks (see Scenic Oaks Tree Trimming Procedure below).
Oak Tree Trimming Dates
Scenic Oaks follows the Texas Forest Service recommendations for oak wilt management.
There should be no trimming of oak trees from February 1st to June 30th each year.
All oak wounds (intentional or accidental) must be painted immediately.
As of June 2025, here is the updated Oak Wilt map
The yellow area is the area that is already seriously diseased.
The area between the yellow and red lines is the “Immediate Injection Zone”. Any oak tree in this 75 ft range is an urgent tree to treat to try to prevent oak wilt spread and disease..
Within 150 ft after the red line is the next injection zone, homeowners should prepare to treat any oak trees in this area preventatively within the next months.
It is best to get the fungicide treatment into the tree before the fungus gets there. This acts like a defense system for the tree before it becomes symptomatic or infected.
Homeowners can treat the oak trees themselves or hire a professional to take care of it. The OWC does not recommend tree-trimming and injection treatment vendors. However, we are pleased to provide you with a list of contractors that have worked in our neighborhood and have complied with our tree trimming regulations.
Injection Equipment
SOPOA has two sets of injection equipment available for our homeowners who want to treat their trees with a fungicide to prevent and treat oak wilt.
The Texas Oak Wilt website https://texasoakwilt.org provides expert information with a video on how to use tree injection equipment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLLELJRCwF0
Scenic Oaks Tree Trimming Permit Procedure
The homeowner downloads the Tree Trimming permit from the SOPOA website and fills it out (see Permits and forms).
At least one week before the start of the tree trimming, the homeowner submits the permit application and bond check by leaving it with the security officer at the entry gate to the Attention of the Oak Wilt Committee.
The Oak Wilt Committee will review the permit and inform the homeowner if the permit is approved or denied. If the permit is denied, the bond check will be returned to the homeowner.
The tree trimming occurs.
Although a member of the Oak Wilt Committee may stop by during the trimming process to observe if the trimming is proceeding according to the rules, the homeowner who has hired the trimming contractor should monitor the job in progress to ensure that the trimming rules are complied with as this is not the responsibility of the Oak Wilt Committee. If a member of the Oak Wilt Committee visits the trimming site and determines that the tree trimming rules are not being complied with, the homeowner will be contacted, and the trimming contractor may be asked to halt trimming.
The homeowner will notify the Oak Wilt Committee upon completion of the trimming. A member of the Oak Wilt Committee will stop by to inspect the trimming to see if it is compliant. If the trimming is compliant with the rules, the bond will be returned to the homeowner. If it is determined that the rules have not been complied with, the SOPOA Board will be notified, and at the next monthly meeting, they will determine if all or part of the bond will be withheld due to non‐compliance.
Questions
If you need more information or have questions, please contact the Oak Wilt Committee via email at treetrimming@scenicoaks.org
Phone numbers are available in the newsletter.