White oak in decline

Looks like a while ago it could have been back filled, good call! I think the trunk is just mossy , its on the North side of the tree North side of the house so proably gets very little sun. Ill keep monitoring and posting, it will be interesting to see if it gets better or I end up removing it. Thanks for all the ideas.
 
EasternArborist said:
Here's the tree this morning, I snuck a trunk picture too, Im not sure what has or hasn't been done to the tree since the past picture. I'm not involved in the treatment but if the tree croaks Ill be cutting it down. Looks sort of the same to me.
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My first thought when looking at the top was mecahnical root damage. Then when looking at the close up of the base of the tree that conclusion becomes obvious. Someone excavated to put in that brick walkway and deck in.. the root system had to be disturbed. And the look of the top where the die back is not symetrical, would indicate root damage on the side of the tree that appears more affected.
 
What is obvious about the timeline of the deck (no competition or wide spread compaction from a deck) and sidewalk?

Does the presence of a deck and sidewalk preclude everything else?
 
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southsoundtree said:
What is obvious about the timeline of the deck (no competition or wide spread compaction from a deck) and sidewalk?

Does the presence of a deck and sidewalk preclude everything else?
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The tree was definitely there before the deck and the walk.. is there any question in your mind about that??? If you can't see that then I won't waste my time trying to talk sense to you.

If the tree was there before the walk, then a large section of the roots was destroyed by the excavation for the walk.. that excavation would be a good 4-6" depth. Then if you look at the base of the tree, it's clear some of that soil was just piled up around the base of the tree, which buried some roots around that side of the tree and specifically at the important trunk flare/root crown area.

Then there is the deck which was contructed with footers that were likely dug several feet deep. And there is also the mulch bed which may have been further damaged the roots on that side of the tree when it was installed.

Those factors are all completely obvious and certainly contributed to the decline if they are not solely responsible for the decline. Those factors alone may not be all the reason for the decline, meaning there may be other contributing factors that are not clear from the pictures. But IMO the obvious root disturbance from those landscape features would be enough to cause the decline see in the pictures...
 
Sure, it could be.

Generally, causes of decline are miltifactorial.

I don't know the construction date, design, or times / extents of construction impact.

I try to keep an open mind until details are known.

Strange things happen...
a water leak or drainage change saturating an area over time,
my customer's water system flushed/ dumped a lot of salt water on maple causing defoliation followed by typical leavesthe following year,
a new utility trench that now has grass over it,
herbicide,
etc.
 
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southsoundtree said:
I don't know the construction date, design, or times / extents of construction impact.
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Yeah it’s a bit of a gestalt impression seeing these situations and judging time. I’m usually pretty good at telling how old a deck or house or landscaping or pruning cut is- looking for signs like lichen, moss, grime, the deterioration of wooden posts, asphalt shingles, etc.

I definitely read this the same way as Daniel, that there’s quite a bit of soil added and compacted on the right side of the tree and that stonework looks to be maybe 4-8 years old. The grass looks fairly new- no dandelion or violet - still only what came out of the Scott’s grass seed bag.

White oaks (at least in this area) seem to reliably show the results of stress in around 5 years time. So I’m thinking it was about then for the construction stresses- but that’s just a guess based on a single photo.
 
Stumpsprouts said:
Yeah it’s a bit of a gestalt impression seeing these situations and judging time. I’m usually pretty good at telling how old a deck or house or landscaping or pruning cut is- looking for signs like lichen, moss, grime, the deterioration of wooden posts, asphalt shingles, etc.

I definitely read this the same way as Daniel, that there’s quite a bit of soil added and compacted on the right side of the tree and that stonework looks to be maybe 4-8 years old. The grass looks fairly new- no dandelion or violet - still only what came out of the Scott’s grass seed bag.

White oaks (at least in this area) seem to reliably show the results of stress in around 5 years time. So I’m thinking it was about then for the construction stresses- but that’s just a guess based on a single photo.
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That's pretty much the way I read it, except the timeline. that much decline could be the result of 10-15+ years of root damage.
 
Was just a the site going to remove some white pines under the white oak. I did a good inspection for you guys and guess what the big tree service apparently didn’t see ! Girdled !!! too late the try to cut it out I assume ?
 
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