Please help me with this sad tree.

[Revrat]

Hello all. I’m a computer guy, car guy and network engineer, but I know almost nothing about trees so I’m hoping you can help me out with a question/ issue.

We built our house about 11 years ago and the requirement was 2 oak trees in the front so that’s what the landscapers planted. We knew early that one seemed healthier than the other, but their size stayed similar so we didn’t worry about it. Now that they are grown more it’s pretty obvious that they are different and I’m wondering if there is anything I can do at this stage to help the little guy. It’s not only shorter, it’s really scrubby looking with knobs all over it. I’m sure it’s a disease or fungus, but from what I’ve read it could be wasps. I hope not, because as many knobs as there are if they hatched we would have an invasion!

Please take a look at these pictures and let me know what you think I need to do. Looking now I’m not even sure they are the same species

 

[Revrat]

Sorry for the sideways pictures, I can’t figure out how to rotate them from my phone.

 

[TreeCo]

It might be gouty oak gall.

gouty oak gall - Google Search

:

 

[southsoundtree]

You have "volcano mulching".

Volcano Mulching – Doing This Can Kill Your Tree – The Tree Care Guide

 

[Bucknut]

Excavate with a hand trowel or gently with a shovel to expose the root flare. Check for girdling root(s). If found, sever them and/or remove them if possible.

(A girdling root is one that grows in a circular fashion around the lower trunk or root flare and will eventually “strangle” the tree by preventing water and nutrient upflow)

In my experience this could explain a size or vitality difference in two trees planted at the same time presumably from the same nursery.

 

[Revrat]

That sounds like a plan. I know it’s too much mulch, I’m guilty of paying someone else to handle my yard work and that’s what I get. I’ll fix the volcano and “dig into” the root thing, that may be my issue.
I looked into the oak gall and it looks like the only remedy is to prune out the affected branches, but I’m not sure that’ll leave me with much tree left!

Thanks all!

 

[oldoakman]

Photo 3 looks like a mistletoe as well. Unusual for Live Oak. Looks like it was a poor quality plant from the nursery.

 

[Kyla Watson]

It is necessary to remove the affected areas of the tree