Question
My tree is acting much the same as the person who asked a question in January.  Black trunk and eraser size holes.  Leaves are yellowing and dying - branches also appear dying.  However, nothing is oozing out of the hole.  This tree is about 8 years old.......we are heart broken!  Is it gone?

Answer
If the holes are aligned in a straight line around the trunk, then it would be woodpeckers, which usually do not kill trees.  The black trunk is not a good sign.  The only thing we can do for trees is to fertilize with a slow release tree fertilizer and keep watered during periods of drought.  It also may be that the tree put on a lot of new growth this spring and then with the onset of hot weather, it is not able to hold all of the new foliage and is letting some of that defoliate.  Cut off any dead branches, fertilize and keep watered.  Then I would sit back and see what happens.  Not time to get the chainsaw out just yet.  Give it a year before making that decision.  Good Luck.