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Tree dying, please help!
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:52 pm
by hoopsbwc34
Our tree seems to be dying. Leaves furthest from the trunk are turning brown, as you move closer to the trunk they have brown spots, and the closest to the trunk seem fine. Here's several pics....
[url]https://img18.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=img5453m.jpg[/url]
Any ideas on what this could be and how to treat it? Bugs or disease?
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:05 pm
by Kisal
What kind of tree is it? In the pics, it looked like a fruit tree of some sort. If so, the damage looks a lot like a blight ... perhaps fire blight. You should research it, because I'm not positive.
Blights are, to the best of my knowledge, caused by bacteria.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:12 pm
by hoopsbwc34
It's not a fruit tree, I know it is an oak, and I believe it is a pin oak.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:11 pm
by Kisal
Have you looked into anthracnose? It's a common disease, and it does affect oaks, among many other plants.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:38 pm
by applestar
I though Kisal had the right idea so I did a Google Image search for "pin oak blight" and images for "[url=https://www.uky.edu/Ag/kpn/kpn_09/pn_090519.html#STO]Pin oak bacterial leaf scorch[/url]" came up that looks a lot like your tree.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:53 pm
by bewildered_nmsu
It is definitely an oak. I think it's Shumard Oak. But, I can say with certainty that the problem is chlorosis (I've seen this problem hundreds of times). Chlorosis is caused by excess soil akalinity. In excessively alkaline soils plants don't properly absorb iron from the soil. Buy chelated (spray) or liquid (drench) iron from your local garden center and use it.
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:57 pm
by hoopsbwc34
bewildered_nmsu wrote:It is definitely an oak. I think it's Shumard Oak. But, I can say with certainty that the problem is chlorosis (I've seen this problem hundreds of times). Chlorosis is caused by excess soil akalinity. In excessively alkaline soils plants don't properly absorb iron from the soil. Buy chelated (spray) or liquid (drench) iron from your local garden center and use it.
I googled chlorosis and that definitely fits for the yellowish leaves... do you think that is also the cause of the brown spots and dying leaves?
Should I also take some soil for a test?
Thanks for the help!
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:40 pm
by bewildered_nmsu
If chlorosis becomes severe enough the leaves start to burn, so yes. You can buy soil alkalinity testers at your local garden center, but you know that the soil is to alkaline for your oak so just treat it. Also, repeat applications of iron are necessary. This is an ongoing problem if you want to keep your oak.
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:48 pm
by hoopsbwc34
bewildered_nmsu wrote:If chlorosis becomes severe enough the leaves start to burn, so yes. You can buy soil alkalinity testers at your local garden center, but you know that the soil is to alkaline for your oak so just treat it. Also, repeat applications of iron are necessary. This is an ongoing problem if you want to keep your oak.
Thanks for the help! Any ideas what could be causing the low iron in the soil? Could it be the grass fertilizer that is being used?