Are these trees sick? w/lots of Pics

[goodoleboy]

Hi, I was wondering if these trees look sick to you all?

Pics are kinda hard to tell but I think the trees look "thinned" out almost due to dead branches and no leaves. These are White Oak trees We are lcoated in NE Oklahoma. These trees are close to a small creek (wet weather) but fills up occasionally to the bank where the trees are located about 250 ft away 8-12ft elevation change trees are on higher ground.

Is it normal for trees to have this many dead branches. Keep in mind they are about 15 matures white oaks on the property and almost all of them look this way.

I never had a place with mature trees so I know little about them. If you have any more knowledge or need more pics to help identify the problem I will be glad to take them and post here on TBN.

as you can see the right side of the tree is less dense with leaves and has dead branches

Remainder are taken from undet the canopy of other White Oaks

 

[Sprig]

That ground looks pretty rocky and dry, maybe check the soil and see if it is lacking in the proper nutrients. With little experience myself with oaks I'd say from first glance of your pics that they are water-starved, even though they get lots in the spring from the flooding what is happening to them when the water drops? Have they been irrigated at all? From what I understand about trees is they need water, spring, summer, fall, less in winter when dormant. The oak species common here a Gary oaks, but they are small, grow in crappy rocky ground, very sparse foliage. Ones that grow in Victoria, better ground, more water etc., get much larger but seem bottom out at around 30-40ft, and still sparse (ish). There has been a blight that is killing them though too as well as our arbutus trees. If I am not mistaken some trees will lose branches to save the rest of themselves, parts will die off, it is hard to tell if that is what is happening to yours. An on site assessment by a knowledgable arbourist would be inexpesive insurance for you. From the pics they look like not bad trees but I'd wonder about the barkless deadwood in there. Find out the species, what they need for nutrients and water during the dry periods and what killers to watch out for (fungi (?) critters (ants?)). This is what makes sense to me and I am really bored so threw in my opinion. Still learning lots myself and I am sure to po someone but I think thes basic things should be considered. Some good close-ups of the leaves and the bare parts of the dead/dying branches would help the knowlegable ones here I'm sure.
:biggrinbounce2:
Cheers and welcome!

Serge

 

[treeseer]

I'm not from OK, but those look like blackjack oaks to me. These do not shed their dead limbs as readily as other species. If the branches that are dead are on the inside of the tree, they are just "shaded out".

I don't see a problem here, besides the big pictures that drive dialuppers crazy.

 

[okietreedude1]

Just exactly WHERE in NE Oklahoma are you?

It looks to me like these are Blackjack oaks which actually are in the red oak family.

Put up a pic of the leaves.

Especially being in the middle of a dry pasture, their condition doesnt surprise me. Around here, mature blackjacks in their native conditions look that way.

 

[goodoleboy]

Hi, I will post pics in a few days when I get back out to the property.They might be blackjack oak?? I just saw a few pics of White oak leaves on the net which looked real similar.

My location in Oklahoma is Pryor/Mayes county. Reason I put NE OK was since their are members from throughout the country people kinda know where NE OK is at. Good to see a fellow Okie on the board though!