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Knowledge Center

At Good Oak we want to empower you to take charge of your landscape. Education is part of our mission and this page is dedicated to detailed how-to guides and research help from us and other trusted sources. Learn about weed control, native gardens and planting tips, pest control, and prescribed fire techniques.

 

Weed Control:

Start with our basic guide to controlling weeds and invasive plants, or go straight to our list of weed identification and control guides for over 70 species Midwestern invasive plants.

 

Weed Identification and Control Sheets for over 70 species of common Midwestern invasive plants!

 

Native Gardens:

Want to learn more about native landscaping? Here are some resources we've put together to help you

 

Pest Control:

 

Japanese Beetles:

Tackle these pests with our identification and control sheet for Japanese Beetles.

 

Spongy Moths (Lymantria dispar):

Spongy Moths (previously known as gypsy moths) are a serious threat to our already stressed oak trees. The caterpillar of these introduced moths can be found in such great numbers that they are able to completely defoliate a tree. However, any pesticides used to kill spongy moth caterpillars will also kill native caterpillars and many other insects as well. Many hundreds of species of native insects live on oak trees or eat their foliage. These insects are critical parts of our ecosystem; for example they are the primary source of food for songbirds as they raise their young. Even “Bt”, a soil bacteria named Bacillus thuringiensis, which is touted as “natural” and non-toxic, will indiscriminately kill caterpillars of many species feeding on any tree (even non-target plants) in a treatment area. Because of this, we feel that carefully targeted pesticide treatments should only be used as a treatment of last resort for spongy moths. In the long term there is hope that the spongy moths' natural enemies and native predators will be able to keep them in check. In the mean time, there is much a property owner can do to protect their oaks. See the following links for more information:

 

Rabbits:

 

Oak Wilt:

We believe that oak wilt is a native fungal infection that has become an epidemic because of changing land use patterns. Historically oaks were spread out widely in open woodlands and savannas. Today most of our oaks are growing closely together in woodlands with a closed canopy. With the trees growing so much closer together they are more likely to share grafted roots and spread the disease than they would have before settlement. Furthermore, competition from weedy understory trees and invasive brush, as well as weather extremes caused by climate change creates stress on the oaks, making them more susceptible to disease. Finally, physical injury caused by construction, agriculture or poor forest management practices creates wounds or root damage, allowing the pathogen an opportunity to attack the tree. We feel that woodland restoration is good preventative care for the oaks in your woodland, but see the following links to learn more:

 

Emerald Ash Borer:

These tiny insects have arrived in the midwest and are starting to kill ash trees in scattered areas, with potential to spread across the entire region. Once this small beetle is discovered, there is little that can be done but to cut down all of the ash trees in that area to slow the spread of the insect. The biggest concern is with the loss of urban trees where ashes have been frequently planted. We recommend that these trees be replaced with a diversity of hardy native trees thus reducing the impact of any epidemics in the future. Though native to floodplain forest communities, in many of our woodlands these ashes are considered weedy understory trees and are substantially overpopulated, posing a great threat to the continued survival of oaks in our traditionally oak-hickory woodlands. While a reduction of green and white ash trees in some woodlands might, in fact, be ecologically beneficial, we are concerned about the impacts of the ash borer on our less common ash species such as blue ash, black ash and pumpkin ash. If you suspect you find emerald ash borer in Wisconsin or Illinois, you should report it to your local county extension.

 

Prescribed Fire: