it was sarcasm to suggest you get rid of it .... to mock you into understanding that your preconceptions are a bit hasty ... my eyes are supreme to me ... it is of little use to be a blind gardener ... all my trees are limbed up.. so that i may walk [and drive the rider] safety about the yard without worrying if i am going to poke out an eye ... i am quite lax in actually pruning things.. but if one of those chuckers knocks off my glasses or the baseball cap .. i run to the garage.. and saw off that limb with vengeance ... my point simply being.. that in the future.. you might want to do the same ... but mostly is was taking about the just the 3 bottom stubs .. not the first set of major branches .... in my yard.. i use properly diluted round up for grass in beds .... it only works on greenery .... so it will kill the grass with no impact to the trunk of the tree [though i would avoid it] .... and it does not work in the soil ... presuming you arent dumping a 55 gal drum of it there .... that grass is stealing water.. which is the only thing that tree needs for its first 2 years .... so get rid of it ... and it will not help the tree to go digging in there too aggressively to remove it ... IMHO ... but that would still be better than leaving it ... water deeply into the root zone.. and then do not water again.. until your finger.. inserted to the second knuckle.. indicates the soil is dry or hot [hot soil under mulch will be dry tomorrow]... that is watering 'well'.. or good.. or goodly ... more betterer than others ... the size of the ring around any of my trees.. is the ability of the riding mower to turn in a circle.. which give me 4 to 5 foot rings around my trees .... which is a bit bigger than yours ... below are a few pix of those which are an island unto themselves .... good luck ken and this one i planted from an acorn 4 years ago .... oh wait.. thats in your dreams .. not mine.. lol ..

While Willow Oaks, like most oak trees, can get rather large, I say "go for it!" anyway, if you have the room. Too many people have a fear of large trees these days, and while I am not recommending planting a huge tree next right next to your house, there are plenty of older neighborhoods that have existed for years with big trees all over, and they generally do just fine provided the type of large tree is long-lived and sturdy. Willow oaks fall into that catagory. While not the largest or longest lived of the oak trees, they'll outlive everyone here with no problem. They do reach a respectable size - the ones around D.C., particularly a stunning monster near the Capitol, are huge, but don't let that scare you off. It's not like the tree will eat your house and family. As for litter, they do drop leaves and acorns, though their leaves are more fine than most oak leaves, and thus easier to deal with. I say buck the trend of everyone planting tiny, short-lived "ornamental" flower trees and plant something that will offer shade and majesty for generations to come.

no treatment on a stressed plant... except proper water... if the roots are all shriveled... its probably dead ... if there are white tip ends.. there is hope... i would not expect an oak to releaf this late in the season ... quit scratching it.. and plant it.. it either leafs out next spring.. or it doesnt... and there is nohting else we can tell you ... post us a pic of the roots.. maybe we can see something,... planting guide at link ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

Watering sounds about right. The ride home-something I forgot to ask you about, could have caused the rapid drying down of the foliage. Don't bother with any "root stimulators" or any other gizmos or potions. The plant already knows how to regenerate a root system. All it needs is time. While some others here have immediately dismissed this as "normal fall leaf drop", it is obviously not so, having happened more or less over night. But the combo of the season and the ride home in the wind could account for it. finally, look at the ends of the twigs for buds. If the buds are present and hard and full of sap, not dried out and shriveled, the tree will most likely be fine next year. +oM