Need help to ID sick oak

[Trinity Honoria]

Yes, the fool built planters around the base and buried the root flare and lower trunk. <snip> Were there any soil disturbances other than the attempted murder by planter box?

i continue to learn on this site-- i thank all of you!!! although i aesthetically like flowers around trees, this list has taught me that personal preferences can be 'tasteless' and hazardous to the trees... but i promise, never in my wildest dreams would i enjoy vivid blue flower boxes around trees...

"attempted murder by planter box"== sounds like a short story... from an arborists perspective...

thanks for the education and the laugh

 

[treeseer]

Guy do you concede the point?

I fotta go back and :Eye: at those pictures again. I may be missing something--wouldn't be the first time...

 

[hobby climber]

Received a fax today from the arborist who did the assessment on the Red Oak tree in question. According to her, its not the Red Oak Borer ... its an "Oak Clearwing Borer". What are your thoughts? HC

 

[Tree Wizard]

Here's a description of the oak clearwing borer. You probably have to find an adult or larva for a positive id. Your original pictures of the damage don't look like the ones in this link. On the other hand, most borers will go after trees that are stressed. So you not only have to deal with the borers, but you have to reduce the stress on the tree.

www.fs.fed.us/r8/foresthealth/pubs/oakpests/p17.html

 

[hobby climber]

TW, thanks for responding. the recommended treatment was geared to reduce stress on the tree. Recommendations are to get rid of the flowers (& soil) and planters around the base, aerate soil at base of tree, remove grass around base, deep root watering, fertilize in spring, and something else but I forgot what it was. Because the tree has been showing signs of stress/decline for at least three years, its a gamble (50/50) that it'll will recover. We'll know a couple of weeks after green up next spring. Home owner will do what it takes to try to save the tree at this time so i'm advising them to deal with the other tree care company at this point. I hope it makes it,if not I'll get a call to T/D it next year! Thanks to everyone who responded for there help! I've learned a lot from you guys. Hey Mike Mass, about lunch.......... HC