Help! Oak tree dropping leaves

[GhostOfTomJoad]

I've noticed in the last 10 days that one of our live oaks in front (about 9 years old w/ an 8" - 10" trunk) has begun dropping some of its leaves. The leaves are totally brown & dried up when they fall off, but there are some on the tree that are starting to turn. In general it looks as if about 5% of the leaves are turning. The stages of the leaves go from bright yellow spots that are very circular, then to brown, and then drop.

I don't see any of the veinal necrosis that would be an indicator of oak wilt but it seems to my unexperienced eye that the trees are reacting to something. We've had the house for 15 months & had the trees pruned last fall by the Tree Clinic in Austin (we live just north of 620, west of 183).

We did have the house & yard treated for carpenter & pharoah ants by Bug Masters about 2 weeks ago but opted for their organic solution. None of the other trees have shown any adverse effects to the treatment, including the 2 very mature oaks in back which were doused w/ the solution a good 6' up their trunk (the carpenter ants were coming from beneath the deck which is built around these trees).

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sapo1495]

there are lots of kind of oaks, some drop leaves every year, some every 7, I don't know the partictulars- that's what aggy is for. Travis County Extension Agent (an aggy to help)

 

[horn4life]

Don't panic!

Perfectly natural repsonse to heat stress for your trees. Your tree is sort of going dormant due to the stress of the heat. Mine do this every summer when it gets blazing hot.

You can help reduce the stress by watering the roots with one of the probe/stake waterers.

This stress is one of the reasons why it is also a good time to trim trees and that it's not a time for non-tool transfer of Oak Wilt.

But don't panic just give them a little more he tree is just shedding any excess (non-productive) foliage due to the stress of Texas Summers.

 

[GhostOfTomJoad]

Thanks! I appreciate the tips. Mrs. Ghost told me about the same thing, but I was just being overly concerned, I guess

I watered the roots a bit the other day & the whole yard last night so hopefully that will help.

I was just concerned since (so far) it's just the one oak doing it. This oak has responded beautifully to the trimming last year & has really taken off. It provides a great deal of shade to the front of the house (where the living room & upstairs master bedroom get sun).