Three oak trees stressed - Ask Extension
There are three oak trees (possibly pin oak) on our property. Last year they got visibly stressed and started to die from the extremities in. But this...
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Three oak trees stressed #870656
Asked May 29, 2024, 7:57 PM EDT
There are three oak trees (possibly pin oak) on our property. Last year they got visibly stressed and started to die from the extremities in. But this spring, they are sending out new growth, but mostly from the branches near the main trunk. I've read the article on "Why Oak Trees are Declining or Dying" on your resources page.
Is there any hope they might recover since there is new growth? Should we trim the extremities or allow the dead branches to fall or just cut down the trees and assume they probably won't recover, as more than 50% is dead? The bigger branches that do fall are covered with some kind of fungus associated with rotting wood.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Unfortunately, trees in decline (especially to this degree) rarely can recover. The cause of decline is hard to identify and may have begun years ago with excess root moisture, drought, or other factors, so diagnosing the trees with respect to protecting any regrowth from the same eventual fate would be difficult. You could have the trees evaluated by a certified arborist, but the cost of an assessment may not be worth it given that the trees probably can't be salvaged and would need to be removed. Arborists have advanced training in tree structure and health, but as individuals not every person is as experienced at diagnosis as others, so you can inquire about a candidate's level of expertise with oak ailments before hiring someone, if you prefer. Arborists can help to narrow-down a diagnosis since they can inspect the structure of the tree in person and look for sources of tree stress, but they cannot treat or cure every condition once symptoms manifest. They can recommend where pruning cuts should be made, if they are warranted, and in most cases, yes, dead wood should be removed for both personal safety and the health of the tree.
Falling limbs, even if the tree has managed to block the progression of wood decay from a branch into the main trunk, risk causing additional damage to the tree when dropped in a storm (and sometimes they fall even on perfectly calm days). For example, if the limb tears off some trunk bark as it falls away, that can cause a serious wound potentially not capable of sealing-over, risking wood decay in the main trunk. Fungal growth like the type you're seeing on dead wood is very common, and often they are merely opportunistic fungi consuming wood that is already dead, rather than fungi that caused the wood death in the first place.
Dead trees (snags) can be very valuable to wildlife, but in situations where the tree or major branches risk harming people or damaging property when they fall, removal is the safest course of action. That said, retaining the downed wood on the property, if you have the space, can still provide ecological benefits in addition to saving a bit of money from the removal. Brush piles, wood chip mulch, and logs kept around can be valuable to lots of wildlife and the nutrients released as they self-compost can add natural fertilizer back into the landscape.
Miri
Falling limbs, even if the tree has managed to block the progression of wood decay from a branch into the main trunk, risk causing additional damage to the tree when dropped in a storm (and sometimes they fall even on perfectly calm days). For example, if the limb tears off some trunk bark as it falls away, that can cause a serious wound potentially not capable of sealing-over, risking wood decay in the main trunk. Fungal growth like the type you're seeing on dead wood is very common, and often they are merely opportunistic fungi consuming wood that is already dead, rather than fungi that caused the wood death in the first place.
Dead trees (snags) can be very valuable to wildlife, but in situations where the tree or major branches risk harming people or damaging property when they fall, removal is the safest course of action. That said, retaining the downed wood on the property, if you have the space, can still provide ecological benefits in addition to saving a bit of money from the removal. Brush piles, wood chip mulch, and logs kept around can be valuable to lots of wildlife and the nutrients released as they self-compost can add natural fertilizer back into the landscape.
Miri
