Oak Death Questions...

[bottlefed89]

I went to look at a job over the weekend, it was to remove about 10 dead trees, probably 7 of them were oaks, was hard to tell exactly what they were with no leaves. The owners said that 4-5 of them just never got leaves a couple years ago and for a few years one or two will drop it's leaves way early and then never come back. I know this is a pretty vague description to go by, but it's about all I can tell. This is in an established neighborhood, and no construction or anything has gone on. They say nothing's been done differently around the trees. I'm just kinda curious as to why this would happen?? I haven't been doing this long enough to really know every cause for tree death, but these 10 trees lead me to believe it's something I need to look into.
They also have a neighbor who's got an oak that basically one half is already completely brown. His trees has a large wound at the base like someone hit it with a car or truck. This is on the brown side, looks like it happened several years ago as it has attempted to heal over. This particular tree has had driveway poured basically all the way around it. there is about 3 feet around the tree that's not concrete, this one is a little eeasier for me to understand...
Any suggestion as to what I should do next as far as trying to decide what the problem is?? I need the work this may provide, but I'd like to be more informed as to what this is so maybe we can prevent it for others in the area??
Thanks
greg

 

[Redbull]

Pics? Are they treating or fertilizing their lawn with anything?

 

[TreeJunkie]

too vague of a discription. Need more details....Oak wilt????? Hypoxalon canker????? What type of oaks?????? are you sure they're oaks???? Are they dead or just defoliated? Chlorosis?????

 

[bottlefed89]

I'm gonna try to get back today and take some pics. I'm sure they've used fert/herbicide. All but one is completely defoliated, some have been for 2 years. If they've had no foliage for 2 years are they defenitely dead?? I've seen some chlorosis lately, but I didn't think it would be as sudden, they said the trees would be fine and then in a period of only 1-2 months all leaves would be gone and not come back. Like I said I know it's vague, but I'll get some more details. I guess none of us KC guys are out working this morning, huh??

 

[Redbull]

All my mowing accounts have pretty much stopped growing this last week. No tree work today either. Todays a good day to work on saws. Have a couple of pressure washing jobs I could do today. Back to the trees though, ask the cutomers questions, lots of them. How old/big are the trees? It seems like something has probably changed, the customer just might not realize it until you start asking questions.

 

[bottlefed89]

Yeah, mowing is defenitely slowing way down.. Sucks, I'll miss the $$ but that won't hit for another month. Hope it snows... You guys plow?? I'll get back with her today or tomorrow, I checked it out saturday and it was pouring and she didn't want me to come in her house, so we didn't have a long time to chat, I may go look at it in light while its dry here in a little bit to see what else I notice right off..

 

[Redbull]

No plowing here, just some residential snow removal. Nothing big, just something to do when it snows.

 

[TreeJunkie]

No grass here, only gettin high in the trees....

Yeah worked today, had a couple of pruning jobs and some chlorosis treatments to finish up.
Plowing---As many hours as possible. Currently a subcontractor for one of the big lawn companies out south. Haven't really tried to approach any properties myself because of having only one plow

 

[TreeJunkie]

I could really go for some early snow. Not so much for the snow removal. Rather storm damage is lovely.

 

[Davidsinatree]

Let it snow....let it ice.....i'm ready......cold weather rocks...bring it on.

 

[Redbull]

Here, here David! I'm ready for the cold!!!

 

[bottlefed89]

Yeah, snow beats the hell outta me but I love it. PLow all night, clean up trees all day.. I love it.

 

[Bodean]

Hey with that oak. check out that trunk ding. Maybe theres some armallaria. It kills trees portions at a time. Get a soil probe and check the soil around the collar.