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Quote : There are Red Oak's galore around here and many/most of them are rotten inside the base of the tree.
Does anyone know why this happens? I have seen it very frequently, and the tree looks healthy.
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It really depends on where you are, and what species of red oak. Around here and much of their range, scarlet oaks especially are prone to getting the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica)in root hollows, which causes the extreme basal swelling and entry for decay. I've seen them with full, heavy, healthy crowns, on top of a shell. Pretty scary, but they can stand up through alot sometimes, it's surprising.
Quote : There are Red Oak's galore around here and many/most of them are rotten inside the base of the tree.
Does anyone know why this happens? I have seen it very frequently, and the tree looks healthy.
[/ QUOTE ]
It really depends on where you are, and what species of red oak. Around here and much of their range, scarlet oaks especially are prone to getting the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica)in root hollows, which causes the extreme basal swelling and entry for decay. I've seen them with full, heavy, healthy crowns, on top of a shell. Pretty scary, but they can stand up through alot sometimes, it's surprising.
