Help me save my Oak Tree - Ask Extension
We purchased a Red Oak about 3 years ago and had it delivered and planted. It was about 10 to 15 years old so about 15 ft tall at the time. This yea...
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Help me save my Oak Tree #880851
Asked August 09, 2024, 2:16 PM EDT
We purchased a Red Oak about 3 years ago and had it delivered and planted. It was about 10 to 15 years old so about 15 ft tall at the time. This year we noticed many dead leaves on the lower branches, unfortunately I did not take a picture before I trimmed most of the dead branches off this morning. When I was cleaning the grass from under the tree I noticed a root girdleing half the tree. So far, I used Plant-tone fertizer around the tree, cleaned the grass out, and am doing a water drip on it. Any advise would be welcome. Do to the size we paid a heavy price and do not want it lost.
Monroe County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello
Firstly, get some latex house paint and go out and paint all the cuts you made on the tree this morning. Do this right now.
Cut made on oaks this time of year could attract beetles that carry oak wilt fungi. The paint seals the cuts and may help prevent oak wilt, a deadly disease of oaks, if your tree does not yet have the disease.
Next, I will refer your question to our oaks expert.
You will receive more information in a second reply.
Firstly, get some latex house paint and go out and paint all the cuts you made on the tree this morning. Do this right now.
Cut made on oaks this time of year could attract beetles that carry oak wilt fungi. The paint seals the cuts and may help prevent oak wilt, a deadly disease of oaks, if your tree does not yet have the disease.
Next, I will refer your question to our oaks expert.
You will receive more information in a second reply.
Thank you. Painting is done.
On Fri, Aug 9, 2024 at 2:57 PM, Ask Extension<<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Hello,
First, I attached a bulletin about oak wilt for your reading pleasure. Glad you painted the pruning wounds!
I think the brown leaves may be due to tubakia leaf spot? More information is at the link below:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/tubakia-actinopelte-leaf-spot/
As stated, the fungal complex rarely kills the tree. Be sure to dispose of the fallen leaves as well as the branches you pruned in the trash, or burn them if and when it is safe to do so.
Due to the value of the tree, I would recommend calling an arborist to take a look at the girdling root before it becomes an issue. Arborists are certified through the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA. ISA maintains a website that makes it easy to find an arborist in your area:
https://www.treesaregood.org/
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you,
-Julie
First, I attached a bulletin about oak wilt for your reading pleasure. Glad you painted the pruning wounds!
I think the brown leaves may be due to tubakia leaf spot? More information is at the link below:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/tubakia-actinopelte-leaf-spot/
As stated, the fungal complex rarely kills the tree. Be sure to dispose of the fallen leaves as well as the branches you pruned in the trash, or burn them if and when it is safe to do so.
Due to the value of the tree, I would recommend calling an arborist to take a look at the girdling root before it becomes an issue. Arborists are certified through the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA. ISA maintains a website that makes it easy to find an arborist in your area:
https://www.treesaregood.org/
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you,
-Julie
Thank you. I'm contacting an arborist.
On Mon, Aug 12, 2024 at 10:21 AM, Ask Extension<<personal data hidden>> wrote:
