Help! Husband wants to cut down sickly-looking Blackjack Oaks but I want to try to save them

[Kim D]

This house was built about 10 years ago, and we moved in last year. In the front yard, there are several Blackjack oaks (native to this central Texas area). Only one looks halfway like a normal tree. The other three are tall but with very short, skinny branches, only a few feet long. The branches get even shorter towards the top, and the top of one of the trees looks dead.

A lawn service guy (not an arborist) told him that the problem was that they were probably "too close" and that cutting down the middle one would help the other ones grow, so that's what my he wants to do. But I don't know if I'm buying that advice, and I hate to go randomly hacking down plants that are older than I am when it could be a question of nutrition/soil etc. If I can get a general idea of what it might be, then maybe I can convince my husband to hire an arborist to come out.

I've enclosed a few photos. I really appreciate any input that might help me save our trees!!

 

[ropensaddle]

Is the island native area undisturbed when home was built and the grass area where dozers changed grade ?

 

[Kim D]

Hard to say for sure, since we weren't here when the place was being developed. But I believe so, as the bases of the trees start to flare out just above the ground. Although it possible additional soil/mulch was added by the previous homeowners when they tried to landscape that little island. There is old mulch in the whole area.

 

[ropensaddle]

Hard to say for sure, since we weren't here when the place was being developed. But I believe so, as the bases of the trees start to flare out just above the ground. Although it possible additional soil/mulch was added by the previous homeowners when they tried to landscape that little island. There is old mulch in the whole area.

Ok well, fiborous roots of trees go beyond their canopy so I'm inclined to believe many were destroyed in the building process. Having said that, most times construction damage appears in two years after the fact. Have their been serious droughts in recent years ?

 

[Kim D]

There was a drought that affected most of Texas in 2011. Otherwise, if anything there has been a lot of rainfall.

 

[ropensaddle]

Ok well there will be more input by other members the trees appear stressed but not dead. Most times all we can do is create healthy environments, the mulch is a plus if its organic mulch. My feelings are construction stress was the first they endured followed by drought. Is the retaining wall just laid over the top of ground or was a footer laid underneath? Possibly circling roots have developed !

 

[lone wolf]

Trim out all the dead and take care of them.

 

[derwoodii]

tend to agree with Rope they look as stressed due to impact of house footprint landscape rock wall install to trees feeder drip line roots combine with drought years.
Hard to say what best way forward,,, a reduction target prune to good growth wood and limb unions may find them recover thrive and improve the aesthetic or just buy some time while they may continue to decline. Thinning the middle tree would not be my 1st thought tho.

 

[ropensaddle]

I would postpone trimming until fall because possible oak wilt could be introduced to open wounds, monitor for now, water if necessary! Black jack is pretty knarly here, limbs look dead sometimes but aren't. Careful examination of the rootzone is in order is there any supplemental watering late summer? I fully concur that cutting middle tree is of no value to the trees survival.

 

[JeffGu]

The proximity of the trees to each other certainly can affect the form of the trees, but these aren't so close that their health should be affected. They've got other issues... and I think the previous guys have probably got it right. They look like they probably sustained a lot of root damage during the construction of the house. I think calling in an arborist for advice is a very good idea. There's only so much anyone can do from pictures.

 

[BC WetCoast]

I tend to disagree about the stress caused by house construction. From what I've read, after about 6 years, trees have overcome and adapted (or died) to the impacts caused by the construction. Having said that, there is a stress factor affecting the trees, probably in the root zone. However, I don't know Blackstrap oaks, wo can't comment on whether a boring type insect could be attacking it.

 

[mohick]

Prob. as big as a lot of the limbs will ever get, blackjack aren't big type oaks just small brush trees. scrubby type

 

[ropensaddle]

I tend to disagree about the stress caused by house construction. From what I've read, after about 6 years, trees have overcome and adapted (or died) to the impacts caused by the construction. Having said that, there is a stress factor affecting the trees, probably in the root zone. However, I don't know Blackstrap oaks, wso can't comment on whether a boring type insect could be attacking it.

True there; signs usually appear in two years, however we must look at combined stress, because; make no mistake roots were damaged in that construction, prolonged drought later and we can easily see decline as a result. I think the op should hire a consult onsite with a reputable arborist sooner than later if saving the trees are parmount.

 

[Kim D]

Thank you for all the help and insight! I have an arborist coming out on Monday to check out the trees. I'll let y'all know what he says.

 

[Del_]

It looks like the stones were placed and then it was back filled around the trees some time after the house was built.

Also a lot of lower limbs have been removed in the past by people that didn't know about trees. A lot of the little twiggy limbs may be a result from that limb removal.

I'd keep the trees and make sure they get enough water and then do some deadwood removal this fall.

Judging from the size of the dead twigs still on the tree it looks like whatever the problem is these trees are suffering from happened in the past 3 or 4 years. If you are in an arid area it could be damage from the 2011 drought.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I would remove them all,,, yup,,sorry,
Jeff

 

[Sagetown]

I'm no tree man, but I do have lots of Black Jack Oak. When the big ones show signs of stress, they may last 10 years or break into from strong winds. I would remove them. U can always replant. U may want a southern variety of Red Oak though.

 

[rarefish383]

A grade change of just 3 to 5 inches can kill an Oak, and it often takes 5 to 10 years to completely do them in. When I first started scrolling down my thought was construction damage and compaction. Then I saw the "Island. If the "Island" is the natural contour, you have about one third of the root system out side the "Island", and stripped down several inches. So, one third of the trees root system has been damaged, with two thirds still supplying the tree with nutrients. But, only two thirds of what it needs, so a slower decline. If you prune back the dead wood you you may have a few years of decent looking trees. But, I think you will continue to have die back. If one third of the root system was damaged it can't regenerate fast enough to compensate for the stress said damage put on the rest of the root system, and the tree in general. Some might say to try deep root feeding. But, as healthy as every thing else in the yard looks, it does not look like the soil is lacking. I don't think they will ever be truly healthy again. You have a beautiful home with scraggly trees in front of it. You could spend several thousand dollars over several years, just to wind up with shorter scraggly trees. I would like a picture from half way down the block, to put in perspective the trees and house. As much as I hate to remove mature trees, I'm leaning toward removing these. I've been looking at your pictures for an hour, and I agree with Jeff, sorry, get rid of them, Joe.

 

[sb47]

Yes I remember the droughts and the wild fires that followed.
I drove a tree transplanter (in Houston Tx) for over 25 years and been in the business for over 35.
I have seen this a thousand times.
Most of our business was new home installs.
Before construction the lots were most likely back filled with dirt from building the roads.
Then the house was built and more dirt was brought in.
Then chances are the painters washed out all there painting tools next to the trees.
I have planted a tree in a yard and before I even drive away, some mexican would walk out and dump a 5 gallon bucket of paint thinner right on the root ball.
It looks like they all are leaning away from the house, so no real danger there.
But there a liability for anyone walking by.
I would take them down and plant a few live oaks in there place.
Live oaks do very well in Texas and are heat and drought tolerant.
They don't drop limbs like water oaks.
Black jacks are slow growing and tend to grow taller with less canopy spread.
Live oaks grow surprisingly fast.
You plant some 3" live oaks and in 10 years they will be some very nice trees.
Live oaks have a very wide spread (up to 50 feet or more) so plan your placement carefully.
Make sure you plant them far enough apart so they don't crowed each other.

DO NOT OVER WATER YOUR TREES OR THE GRASS IN THE YARD

Unless it is really dry. Then only deep water your trees.

Trees that are watered on a regular bases will have shallow roots and can't hold the wind load in a storm.
These are the trees you see up rooted taking the whole front yard with it.
Making a tree stress a little when dry will force the roots to go deeper looking for water.
This will help the tree resist wind loads.

You can try to prune your black jacks back and they might live for a few more years. But your just going to have ugly dangerous trees. Your best off starting over now rather then wait.

 

[derwoodii]

Then chances are the painters washed out all there painting tools next to the trees.

oh yeah that or concreters wash their out wheel barrows