Sad Oak - Ask Extension
Our lakefront oak tree did not set all its leaves this year. It was vigorous last year. It is not losing leaves; it just didn’t set new ones this sp...
Knowledgebase
Sad Oak #874796
Asked June 26, 2024, 12:39 PM EDT
Our lakefront oak tree did not set all its leaves this year. It was vigorous last year. It is not losing leaves; it just didn’t set new ones this spring on some branches. There are bare branches throughout but most notably atop.
Jackson County Michigan
Expert Response
Factors such as moisture and nutrient levels can impact a tree's ability to produce a dense canopy. The age of a tree is also an important factor. As trees age and begin to decline, they have difficulty putting out a good amount of foliage.
Some years may have different weather patterns that impact how well a tree will leaf out. Sometimes the roots have been damaged, especially if there was any heavy equipment use near the tree or if any digging around the tree was done.
It may be that the tree is very stressed and will bounce back next year, especially with good care...fertilizing it and keeping it well watered. You might consider giving it at least until fall or maybe next spring to see if it recovers or continues to decline.
However, if you are concerned about the health of your oak tree, it may be helpful to consult with a local arborist to ensure that there are no underlying issues. Every tree and situation is a little different and in this case, an on-site arborist is the safest and most effective way to examine your tree and make recommendations regarding the health of the tree, any needed judicial pruning, and whether or not (in his opinion) it should be removed. Hiring a certified arborist will ensure that you are getting a knowledgeable and qualified tree specialist. You can find a certified arborist in your area here:
http://www.treesaregood.org/
Click on "Find an Arborist" at the top of the page; then click on United States from the pull-down menu. Then enter your State and City. This should bring up a list of certified arborists nearest to you. Or you may be able to locate one under "Tree Services" in your local Yellow Pages.
Some years may have different weather patterns that impact how well a tree will leaf out. Sometimes the roots have been damaged, especially if there was any heavy equipment use near the tree or if any digging around the tree was done.
It may be that the tree is very stressed and will bounce back next year, especially with good care...fertilizing it and keeping it well watered. You might consider giving it at least until fall or maybe next spring to see if it recovers or continues to decline.
However, if you are concerned about the health of your oak tree, it may be helpful to consult with a local arborist to ensure that there are no underlying issues. Every tree and situation is a little different and in this case, an on-site arborist is the safest and most effective way to examine your tree and make recommendations regarding the health of the tree, any needed judicial pruning, and whether or not (in his opinion) it should be removed. Hiring a certified arborist will ensure that you are getting a knowledgeable and qualified tree specialist. You can find a certified arborist in your area here:
http://www.treesaregood.org/
Click on "Find an Arborist" at the top of the page; then click on United States from the pull-down menu. Then enter your State and City. This should bring up a list of certified arborists nearest to you. Or you may be able to locate one under "Tree Services" in your local Yellow Pages.
Thank you so much! We did, indeed, excavate near this tree when building @ 2017 and also to remove the dead tree growing into it. We used fertilizer stakes for a few years but discontinued a couple years ago because someone told us it wouldn’t be necessary. Since this tree is lakeside we think it’s getting plenty of moisture, but don’t know how old it is. We did have gypsy moths for a few years but were diligent in protecting the tree. Have not seen any last year nor this year.
We will continue to watch it and will certainly contact a local arborist maybe early fall so that pruning, if needed, can be done.
We very much appreciate your input. Have a good day and God Bless America!
Karen D
On Jun 27, 2024, at 9:10 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Sounds like you have a good plan! God Bless America indeed!
