Chinquapin oak problem - Ask Extension
Hello! We planted a Chinquapin oak tree last May. It's about 5 foot tall and bought it from the Toledo zoo. I just noticed that the leaves are turning...
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Chinquapin oak problem #866160
Asked April 28, 2024, 11:39 AM EDT
Hello! We planted a Chinquapin oak tree last May. It's about 5 foot tall and bought it from the Toledo zoo. I just noticed that the leaves are turning brown. They just looked fine! Any ideas what it could be? Thanks!
Lucas County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi there,
Thank you for sending photos! They are very helpful, although unfortunately it's still very difficult to diagnose a problem without seeing a sample from the tree.
Does it seem like the lower branches are affected most and that the leaf browning is moving upward? If that's the case, my best guess is your tree has been infected with anthracnose, which is a fungal disease that's common when we have cool, wet springs. Fortunately it doesn't usually kill the tree, although it's certainly unattractive. It can also weaken a tree and make it more susceptible to other problems.
Usually chemical control isn't warranted. Your best course of action is to keep your tree as healthy as possible and protect it from reinfection next spring.
Prune and discard dead stems and branches. Remove all fallen leaves in spring and autumn, because they harbor the fungus and can cause re-infection.
Make sure the tree gets adequate fertilization and water, and mulch the base to help moderate soil temperatures.
If you want a certain diagnosis, you can submit a sample to Ohio State's C. Wayne Ellet Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. Information on submitting a sample is at https://ppdc.osu.edu/ .
Thank you for sending photos! They are very helpful, although unfortunately it's still very difficult to diagnose a problem without seeing a sample from the tree.
Does it seem like the lower branches are affected most and that the leaf browning is moving upward? If that's the case, my best guess is your tree has been infected with anthracnose, which is a fungal disease that's common when we have cool, wet springs. Fortunately it doesn't usually kill the tree, although it's certainly unattractive. It can also weaken a tree and make it more susceptible to other problems.
Usually chemical control isn't warranted. Your best course of action is to keep your tree as healthy as possible and protect it from reinfection next spring.
Prune and discard dead stems and branches. Remove all fallen leaves in spring and autumn, because they harbor the fungus and can cause re-infection.
Make sure the tree gets adequate fertilization and water, and mulch the base to help moderate soil temperatures.
If you want a certain diagnosis, you can submit a sample to Ohio State's C. Wayne Ellet Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. Information on submitting a sample is at https://ppdc.osu.edu/ .
Thank you for the reply!
It doesn't seem like it's just the lower branches, it's all the way up and down the tree.
Now, I have holes in the leaves! Some leaves seem to be coming in fine, and some have holes. I've attached some more photos. Any idea what's causing this? Could it be the same thing that made the other leaves brown?
Thanks again!
Ashley
The holes make me think this could be damage from a small fly called the oak shothole leafminer. These insects damage oak leaves in two ways: The females cause holes in the leaves by piercing them to get to the sap, and the larvae eat the tissue between the top and bottom of the leaf. The damage caused by the larvae eventually causes brown to blackish-brown splotches on the leaves.
Fortunately, the damage has little or no effect on the health of the tree. It's just ugly.
Here's some information on oak shothole leafminers: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1576
It's also possible this is a condition called oak tatters, which is believed to be caused by either cold injury or pesticide drift, or possibly both. Here's some information on that condition: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/oak-and-hackberry-tatters
I would still urge you to submit a sample to the pest and plant diagnostic clinic. It's best to know for sure what's causing this damage.
Fortunately, the damage has little or no effect on the health of the tree. It's just ugly.
Here's some information on oak shothole leafminers: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1576
It's also possible this is a condition called oak tatters, which is believed to be caused by either cold injury or pesticide drift, or possibly both. Here's some information on that condition: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/oak-and-hackberry-tatters
I would still urge you to submit a sample to the pest and plant diagnostic clinic. It's best to know for sure what's causing this damage.
