Question
Our community has a main boulevard with a 14' center median.  Every 30', there is either a Sycamore or a Live Oak, depending on the area.  This boulevard and trees have been in place since 2000.  The trees are all mature and have been, until now, very healthy.

Early summer, the first tree lost most of its leaves, and, at the same time, sprouted leaves and small branches out of its main trunk all the way down to the ground, which had been clear up until then.  The top of the tree is still mostly bare, this late in the summer.

Now, over the course of the last three months, this same phenomenon has spread to three adjoining trees.  We brought in a local arborist who told us the problem is that the trees weren't planted right 8 years ago and it's just a coincidence that they all have exhibited this same symptom 8 years later at the same time.  He has recommended a vigorous root service, fertilization and treatment, but won't guarantee the results or that the tree will ever regain its normal shape and appearance.

We think there has to be some sort of disease or other common factor involved and I don't want it to spread all the way down the boulevard.  Any ideas?


Answer
Hi there. Obviously you have a problem.I won't say for sure but water sprouts and base growth is generally a sign of a trees last attempt to survive. It does not make much sense that improper planting would affect all the trees at the same time. Here in NJ we have lost a lot of Plane(sycamore) trees to a fungal infection called purple canker stain. It is fatal.I will give you a web site that is rather lengthy and technical but it should be a good place to start. Before I spent any money on remedial treatments,(It sounds like it's to late for these trees) I would contact the local forestry or ag dept and find out where and how to send a sample for testing. Here is the site  
 http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?search=Ceratocystis fimbriata
Hope this helps,Bill