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Sick Post Oaks
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Author:  BCL [ Tue Aug 12, 2003 10:11 am ]
Post subject:  Sick Post Oaks

I live in a new sub division south of College Station (Stone Forest). The area was forested before building started within the last 2 years. The problem here is that most of the Post Oaks are dying and most other large trees too.

Now, I was told by my realtor, the builder and other locals the we should expect to lose 70-80% of the trees in this area. Reason given? Post Oaks do not like the changes being made to the area .... watering to keep lawns alive, damage from bulldozers,etc, too much fill (in some cases), high chlorine levels in water, "soft" water, sodium?.

I have now been hit (moved in May 30). Two 30' Post Oaks in my front yard are in bad shape, one has all brown leaves, the other just looks bad, leaves are not as green as they should be. Two certified arborists have told me they are gone. Nothing I can do.

Today another arborist came by. he says that my problem is a fungus and while the brown leaf tree is gone, the other can be saved?! His recipe ...

>Remove the bad tree> this will remove some of the drag on the other tree by removing some of the disease.
>Remove all the mulch from around the trees> The mulch contains part of the disease. He says that the mulch is a big part of all this areas problems.
> Add "?" to counter act the akalinity in the soil.

Is this guy crazy? IS there ANY hope for my tree (I've also got three more very big trees in the back yard that look OK for now)

Please help!

Author:  The Ent [ Tue Aug 12, 2003 12:29 pm ]
Post subject: 

I'm sorry to say I think he's grasping at straws there (or trying to sell you X) because Post Oaks simply don't live in a residential yard well. Period.

Sure, there's a chance that the trees in question succumbed to a fungus, but that's only because it's dying nad becoming weak to pretty much anything that comes along.

I'd plan on having someone cut them down and make some nice shredded bark mulch from them (unless you find hard evidence of disease in the wood) and then replace the trees. If you fancy oaks, Shupard Red, Texas Red and Burr are great ones for our area. Live oaks aren't bad but they are somewhat over-planted locally and are much slower growing.

Author:  Connie Tassin [ Tue Aug 12, 2003 6:03 pm ]
Post subject: 

My mom's place near San Antonio is 97% Post Oak trees. She's lived there almost thirty years. Her yard is St. Augustine and Bermuda grass both. The only trees lost, were due to age.

Post Oaks are notoriously picky. This is why you will not find them for sale in nurseries. And if you ever do, post it to the forum!

I would give the sick tree treatment a try before mulching the trees.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Author:  BCL [ Sat Aug 16, 2003 9:30 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for the help, I'm willing to try most anything!

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