Tree dying, please help!

[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?

[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.

[hoopsbwc34]

It's not a fruit tree, I know it is an oak, and I believe it is a pin oak.

[Kisal]

Have you looked into anthracnose? It's a common disease, and it does affect oaks, among many other plants.

[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.

[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.

[hoopsbwc34]

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!

[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.

[hoopsbwc34]

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?