Tree help

[coolbrze]

One property, two problems:

1. A handful of Oaks in a cluster are wilting badly & the leaves are shrivelling and browning. Some dieback in the canopy. No evidence of insects but I couldn't get a close up of the leaves as we didn't have climbing gear when looking at them. No root disturbance. The 4-5 Oak trees have been going downhill for 3-4 years, could the drought be affecting them? Any other ideas? Prob. could be a hundred things...

2. The tops of many of my clients Hickory trees are dying out like in the pics below, any ideas? A few are near a driveway they put in so could have been root disturbance, but there are a lot of others throughout the property that are nowhere near any disturbed soil. Could the drought we're having cause this in one season? Pics below:

 

[coolbrze]

btt

 

[Raintree]

Try to post a close up pic of a leaf cluster. I can only guess from your whole tree pics.

Even though we are in a drought White Oaks are still susceptible to Anthracnose.

The heavy morning dew triggers the disease, need to confirm with a close up.

As for the Hickories they think it's a fungal pathogen.

More research is needed ... University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy: Etiology of crown decline and dieback in bitternut hickory

 

[landscape doc]

vascular problem? roots rotting? Oak Wilt check out treatments soil drench injections

 

[coolbrze]

Is there a good lab we can send leaf samples to for positive identification? If so, what does that cost? Will collect a sample & post some close-up pics if you think that might help.