Oak die-off - Wildlife Gardeners

Helianthus · 09-10-2019, 11:58 AM

The biggest tree on my property, a majestic white oak, has recently started having several large branches suddenly dry up and die. About 40% of the tree is affected now. It is very heart breaking seeing this.
As I drive around here in Virginia, I'm noticing a lot of large oaks suddenly dry up and die like this. I emailed a master naturalists group I'm apart of, and nobody seems to have a clear idea what is going on besides our fluky weather.
Do any of you have any ideas about what could be afflicting oak trees all of a sudden like this? Also, what steps should I take if there is any hope of saving my tree.

Rebek56 · 09-11-2019, 08:19 AM

The Sudden Oak Death pathogen has been found in Ohio--not sure if it is in Virginia or not, but your state DNR might know. https://www.indystar.com/story/news/...as/1262141001/

dapjwy · 09-14-2019, 08:51 PM

This is heartbreaking.

jack · 09-23-2019, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dapjwy

This is heartbreaking.

It sure is. I feel like I'm observing the end of life as we've known it. Species after species in serious trouble and the great majority of people are not even aware of what they are losing and the ramifications involved...

Helianthus · 10-14-2020, 11:39 AM

Update= we ended up having to cut down the tree due to some pretty ridiculous behavior by my neighbor who thought it would fall on his property.
This year hasn't been so bad for the oaks, but I still see lots or dried up trees getting cut down all around me. I'm still hoping to get some replacement species planted before it gets too cold this season.

skip1909 · 10-15-2020, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helianthus

Update= we ended up having to cut down the tree due to some pretty ridiculous behavior by my neighbor who thought it would fall on his property.
This year hasn't been so bad for the oaks, but I still see lots or dried up trees getting cut down all around me. I'm still hoping to get some replacement species planted before it gets too cold this season.

Was the tree found to be diseased? If so, with what?

jack · 10-20-2020, 03:41 PM

Here in Northern Massachusetts, I have eight white oaks. All are thriving. I certainly hope what has happened to hemlocks in my area doesn't happen with oaks.
I just watched the new David Attenborough documentary on Netflix and found it terrifying. I have such high regard for David that when he projects future catastrophes, I fully believe him... "A Life on this Planet" is the name of the documentary , and it is pretty much brand new and just released...

havalotta · 10-20-2020, 06:02 PM

I saw that too. It's heart wrenching...What we've done to our planet!!!!

I no longer see the luna moths nor the whippoorwills we once did when we were children. Land that went on for miles and miles out west is now filled with homes. No more .......as far as you can see wilderness. Grasshoppers, butterflies, bees, all dwindling down in my lifetime.
Fireflies, where are they? That........ is just a few of what I've noticed depleted and going down the drain.

skip1909 · 10-21-2020, 12:00 AM

I watched the Attenborough documentary too, brutal. People think Im crazy for moving further from "the beach", but I expect all the bad effects to be in full swing in 10-20 years including increased frequency and severity of storms and sea level rise. Even if we could stop all emissions right now, it would take decades to get co2 levels back down and restore the habitat. It took decades to make the problem and there is no instant replacement of old growth rain forest.

I did see that white oaks are less susceptible than red oaks to sudden oak death and bacterial leaf scorch.

09-10-2019, 11:58 AM	#1
Helianthus Lungwort Join Date: May 2012 Location: Alexandria, VA	Oak die-off The biggest tree on my property, a majestic white oak, has recently started having several large branches suddenly dry up and die. About 40% of the tree is affected now. It is very heart breaking seeing this. As I drive around here in Virginia, I'm noticing a lot of large oaks suddenly dry up and die like this. I emailed a master naturalists group I'm apart of, and nobody seems to have a clear idea what is going on besides our fluky weather. Do any of you have any ideas about what could be afflicting oak trees all of a sudden like this? Also, what steps should I take if there is any hope of saving my tree.

09-11-2019, 08:19 AM	#2
Rebek56 Offical Silphium Abuser Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southeast Ohio	The Sudden Oak Death pathogen has been found in Ohio--not sure if it is in Virginia or not, but your state DNR might know. https://www.indystar.com/story/news/...as/1262141001/ __________________ "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." --Cicero ~http://rebeccas-window.blogspot.com/~

09-14-2019, 08:51 PM	#3
dapjwy WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pennsylvania	This is heartbreaking. __________________ "If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~

10-20-2020, 03:41 PM	#7
jack Great Horned Owl Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeastern MA	Here in Northern Massachusetts, I have eight white oaks. All are thriving. I certainly hope what has happened to hemlocks in my area doesn't happen with oaks. I just watched the new David Attenborough documentary on Netflix and found it terrifying. I have such high regard for David that when he projects future catastrophes, I fully believe him... "A Life on this Planet" is the name of the documentary , and it is pretty much brand new and just released... __________________ "Know thyself." Oracle at Delphi

10-20-2020, 06:02 PM	#8
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	I saw that too. It's heart wrenching...What we've done to our planet!!!! I no longer see the luna moths nor the whippoorwills we once did when we were children. Land that went on for miles and miles out west is now filled with homes. No more .......as far as you can see wilderness. Grasshoppers, butterflies, bees, all dwindling down in my lifetime. Fireflies, where are they? That........ is just a few of what I've noticed depleted and going down the drain. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

10-14-2020, 11:39 AM	#5
Helianthus Lungwort Join Date: May 2012 Location: Alexandria, VA	Update= we ended up having to cut down the tree due to some pretty ridiculous behavior by my neighbor who thought it would fall on his property. This year hasn't been so bad for the oaks, but I still see lots or dried up trees getting cut down all around me. I'm still hoping to get some replacement species planted before it gets too cold this season.

10-21-2020, 12:00 AM	#9
skip1909 Grub Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: NJ	I watched the Attenborough documentary too, brutal. People think Im crazy for moving further from "the beach", but I expect all the bad effects to be in full swing in 10-20 years including increased frequency and severity of storms and sea level rise. Even if we could stop all emissions right now, it would take decades to get co2 levels back down and restore the habitat. It took decades to make the problem and there is no instant replacement of old growth rain forest. I did see that white oaks are less susceptible than red oaks to sudden oak death and bacterial leaf scorch.

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