Summer heat is stressing trees across North Metro Atlanta, and oaks are among the most commonly affected species. Two problems showing up in yards throughout Gwinnett, Walton, and North Fulton counties right now are worth understanding: leaf scorch from heat and water stress, and oak wilt, a serious fungal disease that can progress rapidly in red oaks during summer months.
Leaf scorch causes browning along the outer leaf margins and tips, typically on the most sun-exposed parts of the canopy. It's a stress response that can often be managed with proper watering and care. Oak wilt, by contrast, causes rapid wilting and browning that moves from the top of the canopy downward and can kill a red oak within a single growing season. The two conditions can look similar in early stages, and the difference matters because the appropriate response is very different.
ATL Tree Work's certified arborists serve Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Snellville, Lawrenceville, Loganville, and surrounding North Atlanta communities. Free estimates available for tree health assessments.
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Photo of oak foliage showing browning or canopy dieback. Authentic North Atlanta job photos preferred.
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