Bur oak tree - Ask Extension
Hi - We have a but oak tree that is approximately 20 years old. It is a tree we planted on our blvd. This year we are having a lot of leaf litter and ...
Knowledgebase
Bur oak tree #872371
Asked June 10, 2024, 10:26 AM EDT
Hi - We have a but oak tree that is approximately 20 years old. It is a tree we planted on our blvd. This year we are having a lot of leaf litter and a few branches are bare. We don’t know what is happening. I have included a few pictures. Thank you for any insight.
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Dear Sarah,
From the photos you attached I can see no obvious problems with your Bur Oak tree. But then it is difficult to diagnose tree problems through photos.
One issue that can occur is Bur Oak Blight. This is a fact sheet from the University of Illinois Extension that describes it: https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=847
The University of Kentucky has this to say about Bur Oaks:
Culture: Although the bur oak is too large for most home
landscapes, it is an excellent park tree. Native to rich bottom land, this oak is tough and adaptable. It is cold hardy, tolerates drought and grows best in full sun. It is more tolerant of urban conditions than most oaks. Its well-developed tap root makes bur oak difficult to
transplant. Because of its large leaf size, leaf litter may be a landscape problem. Although bur oak has no serious disease or insect problems, potential problems include obscure scale, two-lined chestnut borer, bacterial leaf scorch, oak horn gall and gypsy moth. In addition,
as little as 1 inch of fill soil can kill an oak.
Because trees are a major investment in landscapes, we recommend that you consult with a certified arborist. Fortunately, here in Franklin County there are many well-qualified arborists. You can find names at this website:
https://www.treesaregood.org/
Best of luck,
From the photos you attached I can see no obvious problems with your Bur Oak tree. But then it is difficult to diagnose tree problems through photos.
One issue that can occur is Bur Oak Blight. This is a fact sheet from the University of Illinois Extension that describes it: https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=847
The University of Kentucky has this to say about Bur Oaks:
Culture: Although the bur oak is too large for most home
landscapes, it is an excellent park tree. Native to rich bottom land, this oak is tough and adaptable. It is cold hardy, tolerates drought and grows best in full sun. It is more tolerant of urban conditions than most oaks. Its well-developed tap root makes bur oak difficult to
transplant. Because of its large leaf size, leaf litter may be a landscape problem. Although bur oak has no serious disease or insect problems, potential problems include obscure scale, two-lined chestnut borer, bacterial leaf scorch, oak horn gall and gypsy moth. In addition,
as little as 1 inch of fill soil can kill an oak.
Because trees are a major investment in landscapes, we recommend that you consult with a certified arborist. Fortunately, here in Franklin County there are many well-qualified arborists. You can find names at this website:
https://www.treesaregood.org/
Best of luck,
Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 15, 2024, at 9:01 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Dear Sarah,
You are most welcome. Please feel free to write again anytime with your gardening questions.
You are most welcome. Please feel free to write again anytime with your gardening questions.
