Help with Large red oak

OasisTree

OasisTree

Branched out member
Location
Central Missouri
large red oak is turning brown and drying up, with 1 large limb at the bottom that still looks healthy. We have had plenty of moisture, and tree looks to be solid with no decay. Last major thing landscape-wise was a septic system 35 years ago. It is turning brown fast, and homeowner says it didnt start till just 3 days ago.
 
Are you sure it's a Red? Where are you located? I have been dealing with Crypt a Gall Wasp here on Cape Cod for a few yrs, but it only affects the Black Oaks.
 
I am located in Central Missouri. Is this something lightning would do? There is no visible scarring on the trunk, but it does line up with some discriptions of lightning struck trees.
 
CreTree, I'd like to see some pics of the CGW galls and damage if you get time. We have oak galls around here but I've never seen them do much harm. I have one particular client whose red oak has them. I've worked the trees for at least 10 years now. I guess they'd be classified as the oak apple galls, but I've never seen too many in the tree and no damage to speak of. Don't see many Black oaks around here though.
 
These Galls are not the standard bullish galls. The larvae from the wasp tunnels along the branch tops creating the gall. It is my understanding that the saliva from the larvae changes the DNA in the tree and tells it to produce less leafy material and more woody material. The limbs grow wood so fast that the structure is very compromised. I have taken hold of a 1" limb and bigger and it will snap clean off. No bending, no tearing just snap. Scary shiite to be honest. I had a 6" crotch completely fail last fall rigging a 100 lb limb. A simple swing and glide on the porty. I am very happy I was tied in somewhere else.
 
Wow, thanks for that info CreTree. My boss just recently discovered the crypt gall wasp in his black oak. I wouldn't have thought decent sized wood would be so weakened. I'll have to keep that in mind thanks again!
 
Have you checked for gas leaks nearby? That will cause this problem. I've got a large oak that I'm going to be pruning that is experiencing the same thing though not as severely.
 
Hadn't seen Red oak on the list, but I have seen them affected. They do not suffere nearly as as as the Black Oak in that photo.
 
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