Question
We moved into our home 5 years ago and the builder put in two young oak trees in the front.  I am not aware of which type of oaks they are.  I have noticed that they will put out new leaves, but before the leaves can mature, the tips curl up and the leaves fall off.  The leaves that do make it to maturity have a light yellow faint speckled look to them.  This seems to be getting worse and I cannot figure out what it wrong.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Sounds like the trees are having root problems. I would recommend that you fertilize the trees.  Root disorders caused by soil compaction, construction damage, or drought can be corrected by using fertilizers high in phosphorus which will promote new root growth. Superphosphate (0-20-0) or triple superphosphate (0-46-0) are recommended. High-nitrogen fertilizers, particularly fast-release forms, should be avoided because the resulting increased top growth will strain the already inadequate root system.
Usually, October through March are the best times to fertilize. Soil moisture and temperature conditions are best during these periods, and this will insure that the fertilizer will be in place at the beginning of the growing season when maximum benefit will be realized. Root growth is best during this time also. Late summer fertilization may promote late growth which is undesirable before winter.

Distressed trees should be fertilized at once. Stress problems will normally show up during the active growing season. Root damaged trees should be fertilized during periods of maximum root growth which occur during spring, early summer and in early to mid autumn.

Fertilizer must be placed near the tree's absorbing roots. The absorbing roots begin several ft from the trunk and can extend beyond the spread of outermost branches by as much as 40 to 50%. Shallow-rooted species such as elm or maple typically have roots that extend well beyond the spread of the branches. In such cases, extend the area fertilized to match the estimated root spread.

Apply 1 to 2 lb  per 1000 ft2 of soil surface area under the spread of the branches (crown spread). Crown spread can be determined by the following formula. The radius is the distance from the trunk of the tree to the edge of the branch spread. Crown Spread = (Radius) 2 x 3.14