Question

Red Oak #1  

Red Oak Back House #13   Jim,

I have lived in this house 22 years. I believe this Red Oak Tree has leaned as you see in enclosed pics for all of this time, though I didn't pay much attention to it when I moved here.

Three or four years ago it got my attention by dropping a rather large limb (20'or so) across my fence and my neighbor's driveway and onto their deck. Damaged my fence, but not their deck.

Four weeks ago it dropped a limb that was about 10'-12' length and ten days later it dropped another limb that was same length and 4-5" diameter.

I wonder if this tree falls is it likely to crush my house or is it so close to the house that it wouldn't have much momentum so would end up damaging but not crushing house?

I am trying to decide if it's dangerous and should come down but it's so expensive to take a tree down so I don't have an option to take a tree down that isn't dangerous.

What do you think about this tree situation?

Am sending pics and will probably need to send more than one email to get the pics to you.

Thanks so much for your kind opinion!

Nancy

Answer
It looks like the tree is dying--the foliage is thin and sparse looking. I would recommend that you take the tree down.You can try fertilizing it and this might give it some life. But I would not expect much. I could not tell what is damaging the tree from the photos. But it looks like it has a problem. It really would take a on the ground visit to ID the problem. You might call the State Forestry agency and ask one of their Foresters to come take a look. This is a free service in most states. Sorry!