Thanks for your question.  Just one favor.  Please send me a picture of the entire tree from a distance.  I would like to see how the foliage at the top of the tree compares with the foliage more towards the bottom.

Many thanks.

Hello,

I'm wondering if you have had the chance to review the photos above? Please advise what I should do next. 

Thank you for your help.

Casey

Thank you for your question.

Your latest picture depicts a healthy oak tree. I would guess that it is 70+ years of age. The reason why I wanted to see a complete picture of your tree was to determine if oak wilt was present. This disease starts at the top with discoloration in the leaves. Another symptom of oak wilt is the loss of chlorophyll in the leaves and their transformation into leaves having a reddish tint. It doesn’t appear that these presently describe your tree. This suggests that oak wilt may not be present. However, only specific laboratory tests can eliminate that possibility. Finally, Hennepin County is presently considered a “high risk” area for Oak Wilt. See the following for information on these and related points.:

https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/oak-wilt-minnesota

https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/oak-wilt-minnesota - :~:text=Where is oak wilt found,Isanti and northwestern Dakota counties.

https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/backyard/treecare/forest_health/oak-wilt/oak-wilt-guide.pdf

https://agweather.cals.wisc.edu/thermal-models/oak-wilt-dd?lat=45&long=-93.5

In contrast to oak wilt, oak anthracnose is a much less serious condition. Your leaf pictures are more consistent with this disease than with oak wilt. See the following:

https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/anthracnose-trees-and-shrubs - :~:text=Anthracnose is a common fungal,require treatment in most cases.

https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2006/5-24/oakantrhacnose.html

https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plant-care-resources/anthracnose-of-shade-trees/ - :~:text=In the spring, spores are,will re-leaf by summer.

Here are my thoughts and suggestions:

1). Your pictures lean more to a diagnosis of anthracnose than to oak wilt. However specific laboratory tests should be done to be sure about this.

2). Getting an absolutely correct disease identification is very necessary for you to proceed, both from economic and aesthetic standpoints.

3). I am aware of two very competent plant disease diagnosis laboratories. One is affiliated with the University of Minnesota and the other with the University of Wisconsin. I would urge you to contact either or both regarding submission of samples from your tree for their analyses. See:

https://pdc.umn.edu/

https://pddc.wisc.edu/

Good luck. Sorry that I could not give you an absolute answer in which I have full confidence. I’ve presented the best information to which I have access. This includes providing you the necessary locations at which you could get an absolute answer.

Thanks again for consulting us.

Thanks again for using our forum.  While I am reasonably certain that you tree does not have oak wilt, you should seek verification of this from another source.  I am glad that you will be doing this.  Best of luck.