Dead - or Dying - Oak

[RavioliKid]

Okay, folks,

I have an enormous oak in my front yard. It was in good shape last year. This year, it looks dead. There are just a few leaves on it.

Any advice on what to do? I suppose it'll have to come down. Are there any of you out there that would want to mill it? Or, is wood that dies in position not useful?

It makes me sad to lose such a beautiful tree.  

[Ron Scott]

Rav,

Since you indicate that this may have happened suddenly, you should check with your local Conservation District Forester, Extension Forester, or professional consulting Forester to determine what the cause of death was and if the wood is infected and useable or will a require specific disposal.

If the problem is oak wilt, there could be some problem. If its oak die back, gypsy moth, etc. there may not be a problem. Its best to find out the "cause of death" first.

[RavioliKid]

Thanks, Ron!

I'll pass the info along to my father. Since I'm leaving for Senegal on Thursday - God willing - it'll be up to him to decide what to do about it.

[Tom]

Don't forget your camera, Rav.  I want to see what that place looks like.

[Bro. Noble]

Just make sure it ain't posted under the 'OOPS' thread

Noble

[L. Wakefield]

   ***RAV!!*** Before you toast that tree, be sure it wasn't just hit by bad bugs. That can make them look dead but they come back. What are the other hoaks in the harea doing?  lw

[Kevin]

A certified arborist should be able to diagnose the problem as well.

[RavioliKid]

My father got somebody to come over. He called the extension service and got a guy named Mike Graham to come over. (Anybody know him?) I had to be at work, so I wasn't there when he talked to my father.

Dad tells me that he said it is probably oak wilt. However, the rest of the oaks in the area look fine. He also said that the tree can stand there safely for two years before the branches start falling. So, I think we might wait until next year to do anything about it. That way, Lynn, if it is just something "temporary" we won't have gotten rid of a good tree.

I'd really hate to lose it, It really is a beauty.

[Ron Scott]

If it is oak wilt, the leaves would be brown and off by now. all of them. Maybe a good idea to wait and see what may be happening to other red oak in the nearby area as you suggest.

Also check out the USDA-Forest Service Research Publications on oak insect and diseases. They're all available on their web site with recent alerts posted.