Amanda, I have quite a few oaks on my farm, and some of my oaks also have these galls. There is nothing you can do, that I'm aware of, to treat the galls once they are formed. Even preventing them in the first place is tricky (probably not really worth trying, IMO). You can (and probably should) remove and dispose of the small branches that have galls on them. Doing so may help to lower the Callirhytis quercuspunctata (the wasps responsible for this type of gall) population. If your small tree is the only one, really close to the area, that has the galls, removal may be more likely to have a positive result than if there are other trees (especially larger ones) in the area also affected. Usually these galls form on smaller branches rather than trunks. I'm not sure what the chances are of a gall, on the trunk, killing the upper part of the trunk. I guess it depends on whether the trunk is really entirely girdled or if the gall is just one one side. Maybe Lucky has more ideas. I think oaks are one of his specialties. I may try to look into this further myself, but am not sure what I can find. Things are kind of hectic around here right now, so it may be a while before I get back to you (if I find something). BTW, Ken was just trying to be sure of the ID. Sometimes he just gets too excited. LOL

Hi Poaky, The mac's I grew were all from river basin origin and do very well in all ranges of soil. It's easy for me to remember because I grew only (2) types: one a big & round acorn, and the other an egg-shaped & very large acorn. If you sift thru the soil you should be able to find which of the types you have. As to suckering, no worries. Just remove any lower growth spurts from the trunk as the graft scion matures. I see growth from the wood at the base of seedlings but never from below the soil. If you do see any from below the soil, remove them and soon enough you'll not deal with those anymore. You guys are talking about black root emergence and slow germination. No need be concerned. The root will regenerate (actually a more fibrous set of roots) as a result. I sowed 1000+ seeds this winter and maybe 1%-2% are up. Just wait before you throw in the towel. Dax Photo of large-round mac's;

I'm in zone 5A, should I plant now or wait until the Spring? Logan, what does "mechanical" damage mean? It wasn't damaged by anything "mechanical", it was some animal that chewed on it. I do all my own yard work so there was never anything like a weed eater or anything mechanical that hit the tree. Maybe I'm misunderstanding. Thanks all. I just wanted to be sure. A friend was telling me "oh it will come back, it's just repairing itself". I'm like "yeah but it's been 5 or 6 years". I'm just annoyed that I waited so long! I just kept thinking it would make a comeback, but the scarred trunk actually just seems like it's getting worse and worse each year.

Why don't you have a consultation with a local interior designer before you choose your furnishings? Create an Ideabook on Houzz or a Pinterest board for rooms you like with oak trim and floors like yours. The few pieces you show are very traditional. More modern pieces, maybe with a bit of oak trim--sofa legs, chair legs, etc.--can echo the oak just a bit. You do have modern lines in one of the photos you show, so more modern pieces will fit right in. Showing this room because of the art, incredible light, great chairs, and lo and behold a traditional table. Look how it all works. (Yes, I realize there's no oak trim here but mixing wood and modern is a great way to go whether you have trim or not.) This is a look you could go for. Notice how the camel sofa and floors harmonize. The modern chairs are up on legs with a golden wood finish. Ditto the coffee table. The rug is a terrific modern design. Everything has streamlined lines.