Thanks Resin, I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed. While I'm here, could I get an option or 2? Knowing that this is a Water Oak and nearing the end of its life cycle, what precautions should I take? I have it professionally trimmed every other year. Crown cleaned & dead limbs removed. I would do it every year but it's very expensive, $800 and up because of the tight space. I have it fertilized with the deep injection thing every few years, try to keep the caterpillars at bay as best we can. I'm really more afraid of it falling on a neighbor's house than anything else, one in particular complains about it constantly although I keep it trimmed about 10 feet above what the city requires. I'm guessing it's about 60 years old, have read that it lives 60 to 80 years. The arborist I use is the best respected in the city and he says just watch it and see. He says for liability reasons he can't guarantee the health of it. (SO why is he an arborist if he can't tell me that?) Anyway, thanks for any advice.

Now that it's getting colder, mice will look for anything they can eat, including tree roots and bark. I lost a 20 year old grape vine a few years ago when they ate all the roots off just at the soil level during a prolonged cold snap. Killed the grape vine just as if I had taken an axe to shear it off at its trunk base.

I don't have any idea what might be wrong with your trees, although I do wonder if you're watering too much. Watering an established tree every couple of days, even during a drought, seems excessive... a once-a-week, deep soaking would be better for them than more frequent ones. I don't know if that's what's causing the bark to fall off or not. Emerald ash borer is a huge problem in some areas -- I know you don't suspect borers, but you might want to take a look at this article (link below; scroll to bottom for information on symptoms) and then look closely at your trees, just to make sure. Another source for help is your local cooperative extension service, and/or master gardener program. Copy and paste this link to find out locations, etc: http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state/ Some states have a pest and disease diagnostic lab as part of their extension service -- great place to get help. I hope your trees are ok -- good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: emerald ash borer

It is clear you do not yet understand pruning techniques, so unintentional haphazard pruning is a real possibility. 'I don't mind if the back side is a hot mess. It can be ugly...no one will see it...' doesn't instill confidence. Yes, it will show! I can see the branches and foliage of the back of my tree when viewing it from the opposite side. When the leaves are gone, and the bare branches show the form of the tree, I can see the entire tree. Have you considered putting the tree up for sale through Craig's List, or a gardening club, locally? It is a desirable tree and it hasn't been in the ground that long, so it should not be as difficult to move as an established tree. You might be able to recoup a enough of your investment to be able to purchase another tree that would be perfect for the location. Trees are an investment in some ways; nice ones, in appropriate settings, can add $$ to the value of a house when sold. Mature trees that are not in appropriate places, or are an eyesore, detract from the value because buyers consider the cost and effort it will require to have them removed, plus the cost to replace it with something appropriate and of sufficient size. You are receiving genuine advice from a lot of members. We don't always agree on everything, because we all have different horticulture experience and training. I have used my experience with my weeping birch to try to offer my best advice. I haven't seen any posts where members were not trying to help you.