Drooping top of oak - Ask Extension
Hi, we have an oak that has a drooping/sagging top. It’s on a slight berm, but water does sit near it after heavy rains. It was standing straight un...
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Drooping top of oak #875357
Asked June 30, 2024, 2:22 PM EDT
Hi, we have an oak that has a drooping/sagging top. It’s on a slight berm, but water does sit near it after heavy rains. It was standing straight until more leaves filled in. So is it due to heavy leaves or too much water? Either way, anything we can do to help it?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Good Morning Amanda,
Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service.
From viewing your photos, it appears your tree is a northern red oak. Your tree appears to be healthy.
From viewing the photo of the tree, I am wondering if there is shade off to the right so that the tree is leaning to the left to gain sun exposure on the top? If there is heavy shade, off to the right, the tree might reach for the sun.
You could monitor the shape as the summer progresses. You can prune oaks in the winter months. https://extension.umn.edu/my-minnesota-woods/when-does-oak-wilt-season-begin
Good Luck!
