purchased new home March 17, 2017. Oak tree dying

[ATH]

View attachment 601265

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?

No...that is at least a few years old. Not that it is "good", but that is not what caused rapid decline of the tree.

 

[JTM]

Not to be all philosophical but I think trees are like people in that they can survive some trauma, the scars most always apparent, how it's pruned and cared for as a sapling will show way on down the road, but when outward signs of sudden decline present themselves, well... as for trees, that's what chainsaws are for.

 

[Jackbnimble]

http://grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_determine_value_tree/

Ck this out as a source to determine the value of your trees