I have plenty oaks , I guess, but I like the sense of the branches leaning in over the walkway and the sense of enclosure made around our shady place. This is Texas. Shade is desirable and not always where you want it and need it.. I am over 60 and growing trees on this 4" of dry alkaline limestone rubble on a slope and caliche will take a long while especially since I can only water the first year to establish then it is on its own. We live 100% on rain water for all our needs. Irrigating is kept at a minimum. We are all about drought hardy. No worry there. I do know that October - November are the months to plant trees here in Texas. There is a sucker coming up from a root, so there is that variable to the possibilities if I do cut it down. It will take off a lot quicker than a planted tree. Below are what I left in the trimming. I did straighten it out and I took a weird crosswise branch that would have extended and started crowding a Madrone tree. The oak tree that we are talking about and the one on the other side of the Madrone had started to join their canopies and stunt the madrone a couple of years ago. Madrones are more than special and it is becoming an endangered tree. I clipped the branches back 2 years ago and the Madrone has rewarded me beautifully. The winds knocked the tree away from the madrone so Its space has really increased which is good. I do play favorites and I will butcher the other trees for that madrone.She's my baby. She takes precedence. Things look airer and the birds are flying through.Things are not as closed in and I bet the clematis vine will get more light and bloom better. I l included a picture which shows the walkway/sitting area and why I like that tree. I also left a picture showing what MOst of the trees are like around my place. My taste run towards natives and a wild look. No lawn, no hybrids, everything is tough as nails. If things go dormant in the heat of summer, so be it. I do have a good deal of sun here. It was 94 degree sun today and it has been a cool summer.. Now I will keep my fingers crossed and see what happens. I might call an arborist and mine him for info. This post was edited by wantonamara on Sun, Jul 6, 14 at 23:41

If the tree has carpenter ants, they're in the dead part of the tree. What does it mean when you say the tree has a "white vertical fungus?" Is the bark coming off. Or is a white something sticking out of the tree? As was suggested, an onsite visit by a Certified Arborist is wise. Some charge to just visit, some don't. So ask before s/he visits. And if the tree is determined to be hazardous and could topple onto your house, you need to find a way to remove it.

We need a little helpful information. What sort of damage? Is it partially uprooted? Limbs Broken? Does it show signs of disease? Did this happen all at once or gradually over time? But the main thing is.....how is it damaged? A tree that has a lot of bark taken off is in serious trouble. If the bark is intact, it has a better chance. Your best bet may be to seek out professional help. It may need pruning to get it back to a size that the roots can support. How old is your tree? They are such lovely trees. I can understand your desire to try and save it. They can take a lot of damage and still come back. Good Luck! PB

Thanks! I just burned 2, 5 gal cans in a cleaning mode. It was a good experience “Related to what I red. 1. Very good starter and heat. 2. Very little ash. 3. No noticeable excess smoke with air. The Bark mixed with Log Splitting Chips saves me from processing chips.