Live Oak moss and other issues

[Rhaugle]

Hi All,

I have a live oak in my front yard with some growths on it that I need help with... hopefully the pictures will help along with my descriptions.. first, is a hair like growth with little balls on the ends. next is a more "flaky" growth and the last seems like it is a light green discoloration of the bark itself.. are theses harming the tree? If so, what can I do to fix this?

some of the leaves are also dying... there are some single leaves, some groups of leave, and some clusters of leaves are half dead half alive. I know Live oaks usually drop leaves twice a year, and im hoping that's all the issue is here.

I live in Houston tx, so hot and humid summers, and a few freezes in the winters.

The tree was installed by the builders about 3/5 years ago. It has not shown much growth over this time, and has never had a full canopy.

 

[ATH]

the stuff on the bark is just lichen. They don't hurt the tree, but MAY be a sign that things aren't good with the tree... Slower growing trees don't slough off the old bark so lichens continue to grow. If it is a slow growing species, no big deal...but if it should be growing fast, that is not a good sign. Also, as more sunlight reaches the trunk (because the trunk is thinning) more lichens will grow...

 

[Rhaugle]

I guess that's better news than I was expecting.. how can I get the tree checked to see if it's sick? I suppose I would have to have someone come look at it.. unless there are some tests I can do on my own?

 

[ATH]

Look for a consulting arborist. Or look here: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
for somebody who does diagnostics.