Laurel oaks do have a tendency to rot inside and many people don't find out about it till a storm blows it over. Most oaks are long lived but Laurel oak is one of the exceptions to that rule. Here is a link that can give you some more info. Just scroll down to the L section and look for Laurel Oak.

Here is a link that might be useful: tree fact sheets

that was a great website,too.

I don't know what to do, it is such great shade tree, but I am afraid it'll come crashing down on us!

teeka

teeka: I don't know if you live in Tampa, but if you do then you are not allowed to remove that tree unless there is something really wrong with it and you can prove it. I think the City's arborist might have to have a look at it. Laurel oaks are protected by the City. I don't know what the regulations are in the County, St. Pete and Temple Terrace, but I would definitely check first.

This looks like a lovely fall picture but that copper color is dead leaves from Hypoxylon Oak canker
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These trees did not die fully but see the rot inside IT was SOAKING WET!
I took them down because it was right where my grandsons fished and they were declining.Yes they are like People 50 good years and its all down hill from there
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Bark falling off is a bad sign
My husband couldnt stand the idea of them being dead so I emailed the Division of Forestry and he pronounced them dead. He also said DIVERSIFY!

Even a certified arborist would not be able to tell for certain if a laurel oak is diseased/hollow or not, but you can count on one having some problem or other when they reach fifty years, and they often start breaking apart much earlier. Laurel oaks are weed trees and very susceptible to disease.

I wish someone would calculate how much money is wasted on laurel oaks that have fallen over power lines, blocked roads, crushed houses and cars and occasionally people. (Not to mention how much we pay tree trimmers to remove them). That tree would be declared the public enemy in Central Florida, as it should be. They do provide shade (but there so many trees so much better for shade!) and acorns (though there are oaks with better acorns too!). It is a native, but it is one of those natives that have taken over like invasive exotics do.

I say cut it down if you can and replace it with something better (live oak, red bay, bald cypress, various native hollies are all great trees).1

Bill

I just took several UF classes on trees and learned A LOT . We had a certified Arborist speak and we learned that with Laurel Oaks they are less wind resistant and much more prone to diseases like fatal Oak wilt or sudden oak death caused by Phytophthora ramorum .
Check with your local UF Extension Office and ask them if they can offer any advice . Also ask them how to get in touch with your city or county Arborist . They each have one .
A certified Arborist can actually tell if a tree is healthy or having disease problems with many different tests - none of which cost you a penny .
My favorite local tree company even has a certified Arborist on staff .
Try to imagine a hurricane arriving next week and imagine the worst case scenario with this tree and your house or your neighbor's house . Can you realistically expect this tree to do well ? Is it disease free and sturdy ? Is it properly trimmed with just one header and no V notched large side branches ? Is it anchored securly with a strong healthy root system ? An Arborist can answer all these questions for you .

Look the tree over for any areas where there are patches of black on the bark coming from forks in the tree. This is a sign that the tree is in trouble. My parents had 2 very large laurel oaks removed from their yard, one less then 5 feet from the house, that were rotting from the inside out and the only sign the trees were in trouble was the black patches. With as close as the tree is to your house you should probably have a certified arborist look it over as soon as possible.