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Hi! We have an oak tree that has been dropping green leaves

Theresa Eisemann

6 years ago

Hi! We have a 12 to 15 yr old oak tree that has started dropping green leaves over the last month. The only serious damage is that the stem that attaches to the tree is brown when they fall. Please any advice would help!

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
where are you ... never saw an oak trunk that looked like that ....

what percent of the canopy has dropped .... any recent storms???

ken
Theresa Eisemann
Original Author
6 years ago
Houston, TX A year after we planted the tree the bark started looking that way. When you touched the bark it moved like the bark was loose from the tree. We treated it with fungicide for the whole summer. It's dropping at least 25-30 leaves a day so by now it has lost 10 to 20 percent so far. It is putting on new growth but it should not be letting go of this springs leaves. We have had a wet spring (2017) and the tree was damaged last spring (2016) by a bad storm. That storm literally moved the tree and sucked its root system out of the ground. The trunk itself was loose in the dirt. But we had no problems after, the tree rerooted itself and we straightened it back up.
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Hi Nancy!! I also agree with Phalanx and what he mentions is spot on!! "First of all, take a deep breath and remember you’re pushing a plant to do natural things in an unnatural habitat; so the challenge is baked in. But I know you’re up for it or you would have given up by now. ". He is right about you are trying to grow trees that are engineered to grow outside. Most of us grow our trees outside as much as possible and that is what our trees truly need to give us the best results possible. I realize you like to grow inside and use artificial lights all year long, but I'm afraid that you will find times of problems that might arise like this! Your trees are telling you that something isn't right and I also would back off on the Neem Oil. I would use as needed and let your leaves try to breath without being spritzed every three weeks. I know you are watching your babies constantly and taking care of them as well! Let them take a break from fertilizing every so often by flushing the soil with water to help eliminate any salt build. Take it one step at a time to see what will cause them to rebound and start pushing new growth . Natural sunlight is the best and only artificial is second to Mother Nature!! I hope and pray that you will see a change with your leaf drop and that someone who is more experienced with growing under artificial lights will chime in for you! My trees ( seedlings and some small one years old trees will grow under artificial liggts for the winter. They always come though fine and are ready to make the switch to natural light for the spring; summer and then into the fall. They thrive in their natural environment and sometimes your trees might need to have a rest from artificial to natural for your summer... Just some thoughts for you, sweetie!! I seriously doubt that your have the awful virus that is mentioned by Dr Kukiat! You can google that info and check it out. The signs will effect the leaves and show sign in a green leaf.. not by your leaves falling off the tree. The other signs are the huge color breaks that the flowers show blooming during the blooming cycle. Most of us have color breaks at times during a high heat wave and it's just that... a color break, not the Virus !! Have a great day!! Laura
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
the tree was damaged last spring (2016) by a bad storm. That storm
literally moved the tree and sucked its root system out of the ground.
The trunk itself was loose in the dirt. But we had no problems after,
the tree rerooted itself and we straightened it back up.

==>>> wow.. but in tree time.. you ARE HAVING PROBLEMS ...
AFTER ... it did NOT recover in half of one season last year .. imo ...

all you can do is wait and see how it all works out ...

how did you straighten it back???

ken
Theresa Eisemann
Original Author
6 years ago
Well a come-a-long and constant pressure pulling it back to very close to straight. We were thinking about fertilizer spikes, it's been a year since we deep root fertilized that tree. Also after much thought, one more thing, we built a concrete patio about 4 feet from the base of this tree in 2015. Could that have affected it this far in the future? Thank you so much for all your help! This poor tree is one of my husbands favorite trees.
Logan L Johnson
6 years ago
Never fertilize a mature tree, or any tree for that matter. If it was damaged, cut it down. Also, mature trees often drop green leaves and small branches in thunderstorms and strong wind.
whaas_5a
6 years ago
Never fertilize a mature tree, or any tree for that matter...unless it is needed
Logan L Johnson
6 years ago
I doubt that it was or will be needed ;).
poaky1
6 years ago
Wow, I am sorry about your tree. I would remove and plant another tree. If your bark is loose on the tree, that's just not a good sign. I would want another oak if I were you, and if the storm was the tree's downfall, not disease, you SHOULD be able to plant another of the same type, unless someone knowledgeable says not to. It just looks rough, if the bark weren't loose etc, I would'nt do it, but, planting a new healthy one would be better than watching the slow decline.....

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