I was called to look at this 180+/- yr english oak...
House built 2 yrs ago
No construction equipment inside the drip line (they say)
Change of grade in side and front of tree (3' max at furthest point away, probably 18" or so at a few points inside the drip line)
Flare intact and clear ( apparently an arborist said the change of grade would be ok, and not to bury the trunk flare...)
They irrigated and fertilized after house was finished
New lawn installed (care of lawn appears to be over care of tree!)
Tree looked great first year
Yellow leaves on house side last year
Dieback evident
Winter waterlogging (wet site anyway, lots of rain past winter)
Irrigation stopped
Plans to install more drainage
I recommended no further irrigation, no fertilizer
Tree appears to be flushing out ok this year, will monitor
Some areas of small yellowish leaves
Area on side of house obviously thinner overall than the rest
Will deadwood if dangerous, otherwise, would you remove small deadwood or leave it?
possible site for fungal intrusion to rest of tree?
What else could be done?
I reckon some of the small feeder roots have been smothered/drowned, I read of some saying to cut back some canopy on that side to compensate...but if this year's growth looks ok, I would tend to leave it...what say you?
I told them that in all probability with the change of drainage patterns and the addition of soil to part of the root zone, and the poor winter drainage, all combined to place the tree under stress.
I told them to keep an eye out for fungal bodies in the lawn...any joy in a fungicide drench, preventative?
House built 2 yrs ago
No construction equipment inside the drip line (they say)
Change of grade in side and front of tree (3' max at furthest point away, probably 18" or so at a few points inside the drip line)
Flare intact and clear ( apparently an arborist said the change of grade would be ok, and not to bury the trunk flare...)
They irrigated and fertilized after house was finished
New lawn installed (care of lawn appears to be over care of tree!)
Tree looked great first year
Yellow leaves on house side last year
Dieback evident
Winter waterlogging (wet site anyway, lots of rain past winter)
Irrigation stopped
Plans to install more drainage
I recommended no further irrigation, no fertilizer
Tree appears to be flushing out ok this year, will monitor
Some areas of small yellowish leaves
Area on side of house obviously thinner overall than the rest
Will deadwood if dangerous, otherwise, would you remove small deadwood or leave it?
possible site for fungal intrusion to rest of tree?
What else could be done?
I reckon some of the small feeder roots have been smothered/drowned, I read of some saying to cut back some canopy on that side to compensate...but if this year's growth looks ok, I would tend to leave it...what say you?
I told them that in all probability with the change of drainage patterns and the addition of soil to part of the root zone, and the poor winter drainage, all combined to place the tree under stress.
I told them to keep an eye out for fungal bodies in the lawn...any joy in a fungicide drench, preventative?