Spots on Red Oak leaves...do we need an arborist?

[Dwimble]

I am in Fort Worth, Texas and we have a Red Oak that we planted almost exactly a year ago (I'd guess its about 15' tall). It has been absolutely great and we've had no problems with it at all. The other day, however, we noticed small spots on pretty much all of its leaves (see pics). Anyone know what could be causing this? Do we need to call an arborist? We are completely new to this and are afraid of losing our trees...we lost some last summer and don't want to go through that again, considering the cost and effort to replace them at that size.

FYI, we have been watering it three times a week all summer according to the tree farm's instructions.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

Mike

 

[treeseer]

we have been watering it three times a week all summer according to the tree farm's instructions.

And did the tre efarm give planting instructions like this?

http://www.treesaregood.org/treecare/tree_planting.aspx

The trunk flare must always be visible--that's Standard. If your tree is buried that could lead to susceptibility to leaf fungi.

 

[S Mc]

Dwimble, welcome to the site.

I will reiterate Treeseer's concern about the planting of this tree. Please expose the flare down to the first major roots. As he said, burying the tree too deep can stress the tree making it susceptible to all manners of problems.

The leaf spots do look fungal which many times are environmentally enhanced due to climate conditions that are favorable to various pathogens. Many of these are considered cosmetic, but there are a few that you may desire to be more proactive with. Taking a leaf sample to your local extension agency or to a qualified diagnostician would help with that decision.

Treeseer, how's that for a compromise?

Sylvia

 

[S Mc]

The tree may well be planted too deeply but my money says it's got zip, zero, nada to do with the spots on the leaves.

And that is why I separated the two in my response. The op's immediate concern may be the potential fungal activity; however, he also needs to be concerned with everything that will result in a compromise to the tree's long term survival and vitality.

Sylvia

 

[Dwimble]

Wow! Thanks very much for the speedy replies.

I'm sure that the root flare not being exposed is about 98% my fault...the tree farm planted the trees for us and was great. We are still very new to all this, and in my ignorance I've piled up mulch around all our trees over the last year and covered it up. I've cleared it all out now and the flare is exposed and the mulch is a couple of inches away from the trunk. So beyond that, is there anything else I should do besides getting someone to diagnose a sample? I had no idea I could do that. I just assumed I'd have to get an arborist to come out here (which I don't mind doing).

Mike

 

[treeseer]

I've cleared it all out now and the flare is exposed and the mulch is a couple of inches away from the trunk.

Sounds great--can you post a pic showing this?

Sidetrack--"The tree may well be planted too deeply but my money says it's got zip, zero, nada to do with the spots on the leaves."

Fungal spores are omnipresent, landing on leaves all the time. If the roots are healthy then more protective suberin is being made to coat the leaf. More protection = less spores growing and making those spots. Stressed roots => More spots. Make sense?

Yes build a relationship with Extension--get some of your tax value back. Good compromise.

Meanwhile, google Taphrina.

 

[S Mc]

I thought taphrina was a leaf curl. Perhaps tubakia?

http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/weeklypics/8-11-08.html

Sylvia

 

[treeseer]

Sounds like a stretch especially with the trees leaves not showing any obvious signs of deficiencies but possibly a small factor.

More likely environmental conditions were right for germination when the spores landed.

The photos show what looks like a healthy tree and small amounts of leaf disease are normal and not very damaging especially this late in the growing season.

Totally agree. :yourock:

A little stretch now and then keeps ya limber!

 

[arborist]

I thought taphrina was a leaf curl. Perhaps tubakia?

http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/weeklypics/8-11-08.html

Sylvia

taphrina is curling of the leafs yes.no indication of this here.
most likely it is just common leaf spot.I see this all the time as well on the red oaks.Just like that article states,mostly late in the season and the following year they leaf out great again.
I wouldn't worry about this tree at all.that's very minor and will leaf out just fine again.don't be surprised to see it again later in the next season either.

 

[Dwimble]

Thanks so much. That's very encouraging.

I'm just a little skittish and paranoid about losing trees because we got burned by a disreputable tree farm early last summer and lost two fairly large oaks we had planted, and almost lost a bald cypress. They planted the trees (which were unhealthy to begin with...unbeknownst to us) in June and they were dying within about a week. So, we called the farm and SURPRISE they tell us, "uh..sorry, but your soil is so bad we can't guarantee them. And the soil in your area is too bad and hard and we aren't going to plant any more around there this summer. Sorry we can't do anything more for you. Try watering them a LOT. Call us if you need anything else."

We knew nothing about trees, so we checked around and called a highly recommended arborist in Dallas/Fort Worth and the first thing he said was that he was sorry to have to tell us, but the tree farm was either incompetent or dishonest and just trying to make a sale, because they shouldn't have transplanted those red oaks at that time. He gave us several things to try, but needless to say they were dead within a month. The bald cypress barely survived (I treated it like my sick child), and now 15 months later it is finally starting to look pretty healthy again despite missing quite a few dead branches that I had to prune.

So to wind this story to end, we carefully shopped around until we found a great tree farm about 65 miles away (Treeland Nursery). I spoke to the owner on the phone and was impressed by him, so we made a day of it and drove out there to see how they were. The owner and his son were awesome! They were very helpful, very honest, and guaranteed everything for a year, no matter what happened to them (other than us doing something like burning them down). They were a pleasure to deal with and we recommend them to everyone. We got the oak pictured above (about 5" trunk), two Autumn Blaze Maples (about 4"), and a large Bald Cypress (5"). They planted them for us in September, all of them were beautiful, and they have been healthy and strong for the whole year since we got them.

But, after paying for a yard full of trees TWICE, I don't want to go through it again...even if I liked dealing with Treeland.

Mike

 

[treeseer]

Planting in June?? Sounds like an expensive learning experience, but you got some nice trees so it's ahappy ending.

Taphrina deformans causes curl yes but many other sp. cause spots. But whatever you call it, it appears cosmetic.

Got that pic of the flare yet? I'd like to see Treeland's product!

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Time to remove the guy wires, swaying in the wind helps the tree build strength.

Planting depth is not as often a problem with oak trees because they are not grafted, they are typically grown from nuts. Too often graft unions are mistaken for trunk flares.
It would be nice to see that picture Treeseer is asking for.

Leaf spot diseases are rarely a problem because they affect such a small percentage of the leaf surface, and usually later in the growing season, after the leave has done most of its work supplying food for the tree.