Question
I have a very young live oak with a black trunk and cracks in the trunk, can i save it and how? already put a fungicide on it and saw a fire ant pile at it's base,

Answer
Dear Jeff, This doesn't sound good.  First kill the fire ants.  Unfortunately, fire ants are everywhere, but they do often congregate around dead plant matter.  The black trunk doesn't sound good either.  Live oak trunks do change color somewhat but that occurs with age, not when they are young.  The big question is are there any leaves on this tree.  If there are, you can probably save it by killing the fire ants and I would spray the trunk with horticultural oil (use SunSpray if you can find it).  That will loosen the black soot off the trunk.  If there aren't leaves on it, it is probably dead, and you will be able to tell because the branches and top will be brittle and snap, not pliable.  If it is dead, I would just start over with a new one.  Live oaks are awesome trees and they require very little care once they are established.  Good luck, and let me know if you need further help.  Melissa