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5 Signs that Your Oak Tree is Dying

5 Signs that Your Oak Tree is Dying

October 25, 2016 By Woodsman Staff 52 Comments

Oak trees are prized among residential homeowners for their aesthetic value and durability. Technically classified as a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus, they are commonly found throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America.

In fact, there are more species of oak trees in North America than any other region. But even oaks are susceptible to disease, illness and injury.

This is why it’s important for property owners to inspect their oaks on a regular basis, checking for the following signs of a dead or dying specimen.

Yellow Leaves

Have you noticed yellow leaves with greenish-colored veins on your oak tree? Assuming all or most of the leaves are experiencing this discoloration, it could be a sign of malnutrition.

Oak trees need nutrients to thrive, and when they don’t get enough of these nutrients, it may lead to yellow leaves with greenish veins.

Have your soil tested to ensure it’s adequate for your respective trees and plants.

Foliage Loss

Oak trees are bound to lose at least some of their foliage, especially when the cool fall and winter weather arrives.

But if you discover significant patches of open, missing foliage, it could be a sign of Diplodia canker, which is a fungal twig and branch disease that affects certain species of oaks.

Decaying Bark

Another sign that your oak tree is dying is the presence of decaying bark. Granted, this isn’t limited strictly to oaks; many species of trees experience this problem.

If you discover the outer bark on your oak is decaying and falling off, it’s usually indicative of a more serious underlying problem – and it may result in the tree’s death.

Powdery Mildew

We can’t talk about common health problems faced by oak trees without mentioning powdery mildew. Most common along the coast, this condition is characterized by the presence of white, powder-like mildew on leaves.

Powdery mildew typically begins on new, young leaves, causing them to die and fall off. If left untreated, it will spread throughout the canopy, causing it to weaken.

Rotted Roots

Oak root rot is fairly common among oak trees. It’s actual two different diseases – fungi and water mold – with the combination of both being referred to as oak root rot.

This condition is particularly common in California, where the humidity and temperature is ideal for fungi and water mold.

Normally, excessive water leads to oak root rot, so use caution to avoid over-watering the oaks in your landscape.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or

click here to schedule an appointment today

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Filed Under: Healthy Trees and Lawn, Tree Care, Tree Wellness

Comments

  1. Lillian Schaeffer says

    November 28, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    This is some great information, and I appreciate your point that watering too much can lead to rotted roots in oak trees. We’ve had a lot of rain in my area recently, and my oak tree isn’t looking very healthy. I’ll definitely look into having a professional come to see if the roots are rotted and the tree needs to be removed. Thanks for the great post!

    Reply
  2. Steve says

    April 6, 2017 at 10:06 am

    Great info here! So many memories you may have with a tree, keeping that tree alive is like keeping those memories alive.

    Reply
  3. Rhonda Miller says

    September 11, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    My oak tree is about 120 circumference and very tall. There is a large hole at base of tree and tree is rotting inside of tree. Outside looks normal. This has been going on for several years. At what point should the tree be removed. It is hanging over my house.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      September 11, 2017 at 5:32 pm

      You should have a tree care professional come out and look at it. If you are in our service area, Williamson County, Texas give us a call or text us at 512-940-0799 and we’ll be glad to come out and provide you with our assessment.

      Reply
  4. Jess crawford says

    May 29, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    I’m in central Florida and my oak has 2 ft. X 18 ” area at base that is decayed. Its approx. 6″ deep and very dark in color. It looks to me as if it was burned at some time. Leaves look fine but because it’s so close (18″) to my driveway I’m concerned it may fall on my car. Any clues ?

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      May 29, 2019 at 5:19 pm

      Hi Jess. Thanks for reading and your comment.

      It would be very difficult to diagnose your issue without being there. I would encourage you to contact a reputable local tree care company and have them come out and advise you.

      Reply
  5. Carol Jackson says

    June 14, 2019 at 10:17 pm

    My oak tree has green fungus & what appears to be webs of some kind. Is my tree at risk of dying?

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      June 17, 2019 at 10:24 am

      Hi Carol, I recommend you contact a local tree care company and have them come out to take a look. If you’re in our service area, Williamson County, Texas, our phone number is 512-940-0799. You can call or text.

      Reply
  6. Cheryl Kinser says

    July 3, 2019 at 10:59 am

    My Laurel Oak is about 65 to 70 years old. Half of the tree is dead and the other side looks ok. Does it need to be cut down.? We have had 2 arborists come out. One says to try to save it and the other says to cut it down.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      July 3, 2019 at 5:17 pm

      Hi Cheryl. We would need to see the tree before we could provide you with an answer to this. If you are in our service area, Williamson County, Texas, then give us a call. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look.

      Reply
  7. Lisa Knepple says

    July 5, 2019 at 11:40 am

    I have grown an oak tree in a planter from an acorn which is several years old and about 6 to 7 feet tall.
    The leaves are turning brown and on some of the leaves it looks like a bug is eating the leaves. I do not see any bugs although I did see one or two ants. Can you tell me what the problem is.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      July 11, 2019 at 10:07 am

      Hi Lisa. We would not be able to tell what the problem is without seeing the tree itself. If it’s in a planter the tree may be root-bound, which means there’s no more room for roots to grow in the planter, which is affecting the way the tree looks and how much water it can absorb.

      Reply
      • Lisa Knepple says

        July 12, 2019 at 9:21 am

        I have one additional question, if I transplant the tree will it still survive and regrow it’s leaves if not this year then next Spring.

        Reply
  8. Lisa Knepple says

    July 12, 2019 at 9:16 am

    Yes it’s in a big planter & if I had more space for this tree I would have transplanted it a while ago. This is the second oak tree that is now dying. I thought possibly that it got too much water but we did notice the roots were expanding from the bottom. Next time I’ll know better. Thank you very much for responding, I truly appreciate your expertise.

    Reply
  9. Barbara Earich says

    July 19, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    Our oak is huge..about 100 ft tall. Its two trees that grew together over the years. The bark on the trunk – and now some limbs, have bark coming away from the trunk, turning out and up towards the sky. There are large black ants in it. The Jacksonville, FL JEA employee came to look at it and told me since there is a canopy with lots of healthy leaves on it, it dznt need to be cut down. I’m worried the trunk is hollow and over the past 4-5 yrs many oak trees have been falling over on homes, etc killing people. Why is the bark turning away from the trunk and upward towards? Help I’m terrified it’s dangerous. It can easily fall on at least 4 homes including ours. No one agrees with me. Thank you for any response.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      July 22, 2019 at 9:01 am

      Hi Barbara. Thanks for your question. Here’s a response for you from our in-house Arborist, Roy.

      “First if you are the homeowner and therefore liable for the tree in question and there appears to be risk via visual assessment and history of trees “falling” then I would really consider removing the potential hazard (the tree in question) …if the bark is split and ants are present than wood-boring insects could be in the tree and hollowing out certain sections. Trees that have at least 75% of their canopy intact & a relatively healthy green foliage have a chance of being restored with treatments. Contact a certified Arborist in your area and let him or her walk through the steps and give you a diagnosis. From there make a decision…again, if said tree is on your property then you are liable.”

      Reply
  10. Sue Preid says

    August 20, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    I have a fairly young oak tree that was perfectly green and healthy one day, and all brown leaves the next. I see no evidence if insects, but some twigs have hard round balls on them. Although there are a few green leaves the majority of the tree is brown and leaves are falling off.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      August 21, 2019 at 12:55 pm

      Hi Sue. Thanks for reading. I spoke to our in-house Arborist and he says the following: It could be a combination of issues…one being summer stress or drought effects. Another possibility is gall mites or gall wasps (round balls). Look into both and compare the images with your tree. Consider watering deeper if no adequate rainfall has been present in your area and contact local Arborist or county extension agent for evaluation if your concern is not addressed to your satisfaction.

      Reply
  11. George says

    August 24, 2019 at 11:51 pm

    I live Lufkin Tx I got a red oak in front house it has lost 80 percent of it leaves in four days and all other leaves have turn brown what do I need to do,

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      August 26, 2019 at 10:59 am

      Hi George. Thanks for reading. You should contact a local arborist or tree care company and have them come out and take a look at your tree. They should be able to asses your situation and provide a solution.

      Reply
  12. Hannah Cookie Goldt says

    August 25, 2019 at 8:56 am

    Hi I have lived in my house since 1969, so Oak tree is old and really big . It was here when I got here. This year there were hardly any acorns. The tree dropped tiny seeds that made the patio dirty and messy on patio furniture. Is it dying.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      August 27, 2019 at 6:45 pm

      Hi Hannah. Thanks for reading. I spoke to our in-house Arborist, Roy. He said that unless the tree is dropping its leaves by 50% and showing large deadwood in the upper canopy he wouldn’t say its dying but there’s not enough info or pictures to give a more accurate opinion. He suggests contacting an arborist or County Extension agent near you for observation.

      Reply
  13. karen says

    September 28, 2019 at 2:37 pm

    What type of oak tree is in the picture under the blog post “5 signs that your oak tree is dying”?

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      October 1, 2019 at 11:02 am

      Hi Karen. Thanks for reading. That is a stock photo and we’re not sure the exact kind of tree it is. It looks like a red oak but the bark is not correct so it may or may not be an oak tree.

      Reply
  14. Kim Canale says

    September 29, 2019 at 3:12 pm

    Hello! This is some great information. We have two young red oak trees in our backyard, and they are already losing their leaves for the season… they are yellow with brown tips – dry like they’ve been burned. Do you have anyone in the Houston, TX area that you would recommend to come and take e a look for us? We had someone out earlier this season, but we are pretty sure they scammed us. Our trees look worse now after they’ve done some “treating”.

    Thanks!
    Kim

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      October 1, 2019 at 11:06 am

      Hi Kim. Thanks for reading. We do not have anyone to refer you to in Houston. However, you can search for an ISA Certified Arborist in your area by visiting the Trees are Good website and searching in your area.

      Reply
  15. John says

    November 26, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    I planted a Live Oak tree last April and it has done really well over the summer. It’s now late November. I put compost around the tree with more mulch and after a week most of the leaves have turned brown and filled off. Everything appears alright but it has me worried. We did also experience a pretty good cold snap a few weeks ago as well

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      December 3, 2019 at 12:47 pm

      Hi John. Thanks for reading. I expect that the cold snap is the reason your tree has lost its leaves. However, if you are in our service area, Williamson County, Texas, give us a call and we’ll be glad to come out and take a look and assess the situation.

      Reply
  16. ZAHID AHMAD says

    April 9, 2020 at 11:57 pm

    i have a laurel oak tree, about 50 years old, has 70-80% of the leaves intact.
    looks good. can you tell me the condition?
    is trimming recommended?
    plz reply asap.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      April 10, 2020 at 6:21 pm

      Hi Zahid. Thanks for your question. There is really no way for us to tell you the condition of your tree without seeing it ourselves. If you are in our service area, Williamson County, Texas, give us a call and we’ll schedule a visit to see your tree. If you’re not in our area you should contact a local arborist or tree service to take a look.

      Reply
  17. Joan Broy says

    May 14, 2020 at 1:50 pm

    my large white oak tree has leaves with color but full 1/2 size and seem to be dry and curling some??
    Tom

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      May 15, 2020 at 11:17 am

      Hi Tom. Thanks for reading. If you are in our service area, Williamson County, Texas, just give us a call and we’ll come out and take a look at your tree. If you are not in our area I recommend you contact a local arborist.

      Reply
  18. Jacqueline Bialczyk says

    May 29, 2020 at 12:34 pm

    I rent in Missouri and the oak tree was here before us. Usually the tree has plenty of leaves and shading my whole yard by now. However, this year the tree looks like it’s got about half the leaves than normal and I notice leaves are falling off. The Leaves are green but branches are kind of bare. There are a few gray spots on the bark of the trunk as well. We did have a couple of freezes this year after spring started. Could this be the reason will it go back to normal or do I need to contact my Landlord and have him look into it.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      June 1, 2020 at 12:39 pm

      Hi Jacqueline. Thanks for reading. There’s really no way for us to evaluate the situation you are in at the moment regarding your tree. I would recommend that you, or your landlord, contact a local arborist or tree care company and have them come out and take a look at your tree and its condition.

      Reply
  19. Rosa C Hardy says

    June 26, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    We recently had a young oak tree planted in the front yard last fall. We noticed this year that right after the leaves came out during the spring, they are now turning yellow but not falling off and also a large piece of the bark at the bottom of the tree is detached and peeling off but has not falling off. Is it dying is there something I need to do? Is there something I need to do. Very concerned.

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      June 27, 2020 at 12:30 pm

      Hi Rosa. Thanks for reading. I would recommend that you contact a local tree care company in your area and have them come take a look at your tree. They will be able to tell you what’s going on when they see it better than we can online.

      Reply
      • Christopher Scully says

        July 7, 2020 at 11:34 pm

        I have a 70+ ft oak in the back yard 2.5-3 ft from a small-medium creek and most of it is dead. We’re concerned it may fall towards the house. Any help is appreciated

        Reply
        • Christopher Scully says

          July 7, 2020 at 11:35 pm

          Ps…I’m in NJ

          Reply
        • Ken Partain says

          July 9, 2020 at 7:46 pm

          Hi Christopher. Thanks for reading. With a tree that size that is mostly dead, I would stongle recommend you contact a local tree care company and have them come out and take a look. It may need to be completely removed for your safety and that of your family.

          Reply
  20. Dee says

    August 26, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    My oak tree in Kentucky has yellow brances. What casuses this.

    Reply
    • Ken Partain says

      September 2, 2020 at 12:17 pm

      Hi Dee. Thanks for reading. You should contact a local arborist or tree care company to take a look at your tree to see what may be causing the yellow branches.

      Reply
  21. Derek Swain says

    September 22, 2020 at 11:21 am

    I had no idea that your oak tree may be suffering from a Diplodia canker if your tree begins losing excessive amounts of foliage. My wife and I have recently noticed that a small pile of leaves has started to accumulate around the base of our oak tree, and we’d like to remove the tree in case it falls during an incoming storm. Hopefully, there is a professional that will get the job done right.

    Reply
  22. Alex says

    December 15, 2020 at 12:29 pm

    Hello, im from another country. My Oak is Very Very sick. Can you Help me? I don’t know what to do, and people here don’t know nothing about this tree.

    Reply
  23. Gene Powell says

    December 28, 2020 at 2:45 pm

    I have lived on a large dry creek in San Antonio, Texas for over 30 years. There are numerous heritage live oaks growing along the banks of the creek. Around the live oaks Ligustrums grow all along the banks of the creek. The Ligustrums have been there for the 50 years I have been knowledgeable about the creek. The Ligustrums do not seem to have ever damaged the oaks. However a friend ask me recently if I should remove the Ligustrums. My response was that unless all the stumps were removed the Ligustrums would simply come right back. And I am afraid that all the traffic and soil disturbance would eventually do more damage to the oaks than any damage previously done by the Ligustrums. I would like your opinion on this situation.

    Reply
  24. Sharon Doty says

    March 4, 2021 at 4:19 pm

    My large oak just went through the hard freeze we had in February. It now looks terrible and leaves are raining. It looks like it is dying. It is 40 years old. Is there anything I can do to help it?

    Reply
  25. Kathy says

    April 19, 2021 at 10:20 am

    We have two large oak trees that are dying, not from the freeze. We just noticed the base of the trees are a real light gray compared to the good trees around it and also the good limbs on the tree are also darker. Help

    Reply
  26. May says

    August 17, 2021 at 10:18 am

    What do you do for Diplodia canker?

    Reply
  27. CJ Howard says

    September 5, 2021 at 5:10 pm

    I lost 2 huge live oaks to Hurricane Harvey. Since then we have had much more than normal rain and an extraordinary freeze. Now I notice a very large patch of bark at the base of one of my oaks that is just hanging on and giving shelter to roaches etc. There is no new bark underneath and a few insect holes. The canopy looks fine. It would be sad to lose another tree!

    Reply
  28. Lucy says

    October 29, 2021 at 11:47 am

    I have a very tall large older oak tree in my California backyard, 50+years old. I have noticed as of late that all of the leaves have turned yellowish brown and dried out looking. Has this tree died? Do I need to trim it or remove it? I haven’t noticed any bark issues or anything else out of the ordinary just the leaves.

    Reply
  29. PB Morrison says

    January 21, 2022 at 2:11 pm

    Laurel oak leaves have been falling constantly for about 6 months. All that fall have black spots. Any idea what is probably

    Reply
  30. Sandra Barnes says

    May 19, 2022 at 2:19 pm

    I have a young pin oak (2 yrs old), affected now with buds that never bloomed in the spring on many of the branches. I live in NE Ohio and we’ve had bizarre snow falls mixed in with heavy rains and hot days and cold nights. What can be done and could be wrong?

    Reply
  31. Kelli A Phillips says

    November 29, 2022 at 5:34 pm

    How do you know what company to call to look at your dying tree?

    Reply

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