Copper for Oak Trees

• Oak trees can benefit from products with copper. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  Your prized, sturdy oak trees that provide interest and shade to your home garden are vulnerable to a wide array of destructive diseases. Whether the damage is cosmetic or severe, the use of copper as an active ingredient in fungicides and bactericides offers reliable control to home gardeners attempting to prevent fungal and bacterial infections on oak trees.

Bordeaux Mixture

• Bordeaux mixture is well suited for the control of oak leaf blister on oak trees, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. This fungal infection is managed by Bordeaux with active ingredients copper sulfate, lime and water. The copper-based fungicide is a reliable bactericide and fungicide that can withstand rainy and cold conditions. Home growers should apply Bordeaux mixture during dormancy, as it may cause damage to leaves when oaks are active, according to the University of California Integrated Pest Management Online.

  Trees must be fully saturated with the mixture for effective control. Bordeaux mixture provides the most successful control when applied during autumn or winter, though gardeners should be mindful of location. Bordeaux mixture creates a blue-green tint on paint and plants and should not be used near buildings or other structures that will become stained.

Copper Soap Liquid

• Copper soap liquid is a fungicide containing the active ingredient copper octanoate at 0.08 percent. Copper soap liquid is a suggested fungicide for control of oak diseases, according to the Clemson University Extension. Formulated for the management of rust, black spot and powdery mildew diseases, home gardeners should apply this copper soap liquid to trees approximately two weeks before symptoms are expected as a preventive measure or the moment symptoms are apparent. Cover plant surfaces once a week until the problem subsides.

Fungicide/Bactericide Spray

• Fungicide/bactericide copper-based spray with the active ingredient of copper salts of fatty and rosin acids at 58 percent is a suggested means of controlling fungal and bacterial infections on oaks. This spray is applied to trees when the first disease symptom appears up until the day of harvest. Utilized as a preventive spray for leaf spot diseases and anthracnose, home gardeners should spray this copper control onto plant surfaces until saturation occurs and spray runs off. Repeated applications are needed once every one to two weeks until fungi or bacteria problems begin to taper off.