Question

Tree18   I have a live oak tree in the ground now for 2 1/2 years showing a strange peeling or shedding of its bark or skin.  Haven't seen any pests associated with the problem.  The tree still appears to be healthy.  Is this normal or do I have an infestation causing damage, or could this be a reaction to the abundance of water caused by Tropical Storms Beryl & Debbie?

Answer
looks like borer damage. These are insects that bore under the bark and can on small trees kill the tree. I would spray the area with an insecticide called Merit or Onyx. Either of these will kill the insect under the bark. Check with your local garden type store for these.

Tree attacked by borers are usually under stress. Normally this is stress from too little water or possibly too much water. IF the soil around the tree is standing in water after a rain it maybe too much water. IF not it could be lack of water. I would recommend that organic mulch be placed around the tree to a depth of 3 inches and not piled up on the trunk. Pine straw is a good one.  This will help hold moisture around the roots. Now if the soil is pooling water around the tree you may need to try adjusting the flow of water so it does not pool. I would also fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. This will increase the overall health of the tree.