purchased new home March 17, 2017. Oak tree dying

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pmotz

ArboristSite Lurker
Joined
Sep 10, 2017
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WEATHERFORD, TX
My husband thinks that too much dirt was piled around tree. Probably done about 10-11 months ago. Leaves turned brown a few weeks ago. Can we save this tree?
 
Is this a newly built structure? Was it back-filled around the base of the tree with excavated dirt?
 
How quickly are they turning brown?

Have you considered Oak Wilt as a possibility?
Don't think it's oak wilt. Possible injury or too much fill dirt during construction of home in Jan./Feb.2013.Oak Tree.jpeg Oak Tree 2.jpg Is there anything to save tree at this point? Photo's included
 
I bet Oak Wilt. Trees around here are taking it hard from wilt. Leaves will turn within a few weeks, just like that. Once it's at that stage, time for a saw. Effects Red oak more than white.
 
That appears to be the case, filled to deep and I would guess they wreaked havoc on the root system as well.
You should have an arborist check other trees that are in the construction zone as well. They may not be showing stress as quickly as the oak did, sometimes it takes several years. If you can alleviate some of the stressors now you will be ahead in a few years and not have to lose more trees.
 
Usually it takes a few years but I've seen a tulip poplar go in just a few weeks from compaction, a bunch of fill, and mechanical damage. I'm willing to bet if a significant portion of the roots were damaged it could cause it to go downhill in a shorter term. They bought the new house 6 months ago, but when was dirt initially broken?
 
You can see in one picture, if you look at the base of the tree, a good chunk of bark is missing and it appears it has been been gone for a while. Whoever cleared the lot prior to construction, may have damaged the tree then. After that area was back-filled, usually when most of the work on the house has been completed, only a portion of the damage remains visible. Bottom line: the tree likely sustained more damage that can't bee seen.
 
Can only tell you what I have seen or heard from others. Good friend owns Great Lakes Tree Service and will NOT trim any oaks prior to September, he has been in Court twice over this. Takes down an affected oak wilt tree and customers said he spread it to other, untouched trees. He will only remove oak wilt dead (no leaves) affected trees. He now takes pictures before and after completing work. Cousin builds 5 foot spades at DNR experimental department and says it helps but not a cure. You can inject fungicide through root taps every two years, but way to expensive for number of trees on my property. Have taken pictures of various stages of oak wilt. Non affected, recently affected, stand of trees with old and new wilt, after oak wilt and finial resting place of affected trees. Experts know a lot more about this. In closing, oak wilt, pine bore, ash bore, gypsy moths, Chinese Beetles, beech bark disease and host of other factors, haveIMG_7749.JPG IMG_7748.JPG IMG_7751.JPG IMG_7753.JPG IMG_7754.JPG IMG_7755.JPG IMG_7752.JPG IMG_7757.JPG IMG_7758.JPG IMG_7759.JPG knocked the crap out of my trees, experts can say all the want.
 
Oak Tree (2).jpeg

This is the place where the bark is missing I was referring to. Looks like this occurred a while ago and a good portion of it may be hidden under the soil, enough to kill the tree?
 
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