Question
Old Oak Tree
I think that the oak tree I have is a post oak. It is very large and very old. About a year ago the tree began to look bad. Now, exactly 1/2 of the tree has died. In the photo that I have attached notice that the tree divideds at about 12 feet off of the the ground. Every branch off of one side ( right side in the photo ) of the tree is dead, while the branches on the other side are still living. I love this tree and want to save it. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
AnswerThe dead side had been infected with a disease called hypoxylon canker. This fungi attacks trees under stress. I would prune the dead limbs off and 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 health of the tree.
