A healthy oak tree, full and tall, is the most beautiful thing. An oak tree, with its lush green leaves and branches reaching far into the sky, is a symbol of strength. Sometimes, however, our oaks don’t do so well. Here are some signs that your oak tree is dying.

A dying oak tree may show signs such as yellowing leaves, loss or decay of foliage, root rot and bark rot. Oak trees that are severely damaged will need to be removed. Trees that are only mildly affected can be maintained and nourished.

Today, we will discuss some of the early signs to watch out for and what you can do if these symptoms appear. Keep reading to find out more about oaks.

What Are Oak Trees?

Oak trees are the majestic, large trees with lobed leaves and tons of acorns. Oak trees, which are staple trees in American agriculture, are known as symbols of strength, wisdom and resilience. They can be found in nearly every state in the United States.

Oak trees belong to the Quercus tree family. There are over five hundred varieties of oaks. Oak trees are considered medium-to-large and each variety has a different growth rate. They can reach 100 feet tall at the highest point and are usually considered mature between 60 and 100 feet.

Oak trees can be divided into two groups: White Oak and Red Oak.

Oak trees are a symbol of strength. They can withstand strong winds and can even withstand drought. Oak trees can live for hundreds to hundreds of years. This is due to their immunity from disease and fungus.

But, diseases do occasionally happen. When they are dying, there is something we can watch for. What does a healthy tree look like?

How to Tell That an Oak Tree is Healthy

Before you can identify what an unhealthy oak tree looks, it is important to understand what a healthy tree should look like.

You will have a general rule before you can declare a tree unhealthy.

Three key visual indicators that you can recognize a healthy oak tree are full branches, strong bark and green leaves.

Think full, strong, green to identify a healthy oak. These three principles can be used to quickly determine if your trees are unhealthy.

Full branches

The image shows the fullness of most of the branches at the bottom. Notice at the top, where there are no leaves? This could indicate that the tree is nearing its end.

The branches are a telltale sign of a healthy tree. A healthy tree will have full branches.

Bending a branch from an oak tree branch can double-check its strength. If the branch bends easily, it is a living one. A dead branch will snap instantly. Oak trees have many branches that stem from the middle of the tree.

Strong bark

Another great way to identify a healthy tree is by its strong bark. Strong oak tree bark will not peel or turn brown and will retain its natural color. The bark of your oak tree may be changing in color or losing its bark.

Green Leaves

Discoloration is often the first sign that an oak tree is in danger.

Lobed leaves are found on oak trees. The leaves of different oak types will have different shades of green. Healthy oak trees will have plenty of green leaves, and no discoloration. Fusiform Rust is a common problem for oak trees.

It’s time to get into it – What are the early signs of a dying oak?

Early Symptoms of a Dying Oak Tree

You can save your oak tree by looking out for signs and symptoms.

This table contains information about the causes and symptoms of oak tree.

SYMPTOM OF DYING OAK TREE	CAUSE	SOLUTION
Spots for Early Leaves	Anthracnose	Monitor and Rake
Blotches on Leaves	Tubakia Leaf Spot	Prune Trees
Yellow, brown, or dull green perimeter for leaves	Oak Wilt	Trunk Injections and Trenching
Leaves – Puckered areas	Oak Leaf Blister	Rake fallen leaves and debris
Swollen Trunk or Branch	Crown Gall	Control Insects
White Textured Spot	Armillaria Root Rot	Proper irrigation
Peeling bark	Root Rot	Restoring Soil Drainage
Collar Mushrooms	Heart Rot	Pruning infected branches
Vertical stripes on trunks and branches	Hypoxylon Canker	Proper fertility and irrigation
Tiny yellow spots on trunk or leaves	Fusiform Rust	Fungicides

Spots on Early Leaves(Anthracnose).

Anthracnose is a condition that causes spotting or lesions on early leaves. This indicates that the tree might not be doing so well – but it’s not yet a game-ender.

Anthracnose is visible on oak trees. You can see the leaf by looking at it. The veins of the leaf may show yellowing or brown spots. The leaf may feel slightly papery and start to take on a cup shape.

Anthracnose can be treated on oak trees by being vigilant, monitoring and really, seeing what happens. To get ahead, rake up fallen leaves and prune branches that are lower than the ground. This will keep affected leaves from being spread to others.

Pruning branches can improve air circulation. Proper irrigation and fertility can be achieved by increasing the air circulation.

You can read our article on the life expectancy for common oak trees at.

Blotches on Leaves (Tubakia Leaf Spot)

Take a closer look at your oak tree next time you go for a walk. There may be blotches in your oak tree’s leaves.

The Tubakia Leaf Spot is also known by blotches or sprawling spots. Blotches are often brown or orange and on young trees can be well-defined. They give off a blotchy look.

The blotches could be bigger on older trees. Blotches along the veins on oak tree leaves may be larger.

Tubakia Leaf Spot is similar to spotting leaves. It’s important to monitor your oak and rake up any fallen leaves. Pruning branches will improve air circulation and irrigation.

Yellow, Brown, or Dull Green Perimeter on Leaves (Oak Wilt)

Have you ever noticed that a leaf has different colors around its edges? That’s Oak Wilt.

Oak Wilt can cause yellowing, browning, and dullening of leaves. This is a sign that a tree is in trouble. Oak trees will experience this problem if the leaves fall too early. This will lead to the tree reaching its end much faster, as the leaves channel light for the tree.

Oak Wilt is more severe in Red Oaks. Red Oaks are more susceptible to Oak Wilt than White Oaks. Red Oaks can often die within four week after Oak Wilt is first detected.

Oak Wilt can often be caused by oak bark mites in warmer temperatures. These beetles eat from the host tree, and can introduce decay fungi that can cause the wilt.

There are many solutions for oak wilt, depending on the severity of the wilting. Trenching can be used to prevent root grafting. A trunk injection with afungicide can sometimes be used to stop the spread of the disease – but this should only be done by a professional.

Puckered Areas on Leaves (Oak Leaf Blister)

Oak Leaf Blister is a blister that looks exactly like any other, but it’s on a leaf. There may not be any color variation at the first sign that there is blistering. However, the texture will feel rough, just like many blisters.

The Oak Leaf Blisters grow longer, so the leaves get browner. They can curl up and eventually fall. The tree’s photosynthesis process is mediated through the leaves.

This can however be corrected.

Oak Leaf Blister’s puckered leaves can be solved by simply watching and monitoring the surrounding tree. To prevent spreading, keep raking leaves and other debris.

Swollen Branches or Trunk (Crown Gall)

Crown Gall is one of the most visible signs of a dead tree. Crown Gall can cause the trunk, roots, and stems to appear swollen and round. It can look almost like a large bulge in your tree. It is most problematic when it is close to the root crown. Although it may appear spongey at first, it becomes very hard over time.

Prevention and maintenance are the best ways to eliminate Crown Gall from oak trees. Crown Gall is a bacterium and can be prevented from spreading by maintaining an oak tree. Crown Gall can be spread to trees by insects.

White Textured Spotting (Armillaria Root Rot)

Armillaria Root Rot causes white textured spotting. This is a yeasty substance that forms on tree bark and branches. This is caused by fungi and can lead to a reduction in tree growth. It can also cause a premature leaf fall, which can then lead to the tree reaching its end much earlier.

It is often found under an oak tree’s bark and can be difficult to spot Armillaria Root Rot. This is usually indicated by the presence of brown to red clusters of mushrooms at the base.

Armillaria Root Rot can be solved by increasing the tree’s strength and avoiding flooding. Proper irrigation is key to ensuring fertility and soil composition are improved.

Peeling Bark (Phytophthora Root Rot)

On oak trees, it is important to quickly manage Phytophthora root Rot or peeling bark. If Phytophthora root Rot is present, the tree’s strength will decrease and the leaves might turn yellow. Trees can survive for several years depending on the severity of the rot, but they will likely die within a shorter time.

Oak trees are difficult to spot Phytophthora root Rot because the roots are the problem. If they have it, the roots will change to a reddish-brown color. Phytophthora root Rot may also be visible under the bark.

Root Rot in oak can be solved by irrigation and maintaining a good soil drainage. Root Rot can be caused by rooting trees too deeply.

You can’t change the depth of your tree. Make sure the tree gets proper irrigation.

Mushrooms at The Collar (Heart Rot)

Also known as Heart Rot mushrooms, the collar of the tree should be removed as soon as possible.

You may notice white rot in the oak tree’s wood as it begins to decay. You will see mushrooms growing on the bark and collar of the tree. They can grow quite large and almost wrap around the bark.

Trees with Heart Roots can quickly fall. The branches will begin to wilt and the leaves will start to turn yellow. However, the mushrooms will eventually fall off after a few weeks.

Heart Rot can be solved by pruning when there are no spores. It’s the best time to prune when the mushrooms have fallen off or the spores have disappeared – often in the colder months.

Vertical Stripes (Hypoxylon Canker)

Hypoxylon Canker is characterized by vertical stripes on your tree’s bark and branches.

Over time, the oak tree’s stripes will become silver-gray and tan. Eventually, they will turn black with yellowing or wilting leaves.

Prevention is the best way to avoid vertical stripes (Hypoxylon Canker). Proper irrigation is crucial to keeping a tree healthy. Make sure the tree is free of insects and any wounds. It is important to remove any injured limbs immediately to prevent spreading the disease to other parts of the tree.

Tiny Yellow Spotting (Fusiform Rust)

FusiformRust causes tiny yellow spots on oak tree leaves and trunks. The yellow spots will look almost like hair follicles, and will be yellow-orange in color. These tiny spots look like pin-points and they are found in clusters.

Fusiform Rust is not as noticeable in oaks that are already in cultivation, but it can be very visible in tree nursery plants. Fumigicides should be applied to young oaks in order to prevent it.

Initial Steps to Take to Prevent an Oak Tree from Dying

It is important to know what you can do to preserve your trees’ health and vitality. There are steps you can take to prevent your trees from dying too early. We’re here to help you if you already know.

You will also want to plant your oak tree in the best time possible. This is crucial. This is our guide on the best time to plant oak trees.

Pick the Right Oak Tree

All trees are beautiful, and that goes without saying. However, not all trees can thrive in all climates. Oaks can thrive in mixed climates, but there are oaks you can select for your particular area.

To help you choose the best oak tree for you, see our guide Best Oak Trees to Plant here

Keep Grass Away From The Tree

The tree will be attacked by grass for water, air, and nutrients. It’s best to avoid planting a tree in a grassy area when you plant it. Trees are at their most vulnerable in the beginning stages. They need all the nutrients, water and air they can get. Mulch around the tree is an alternative.

For more information, please refer to our guide to planting oak trees in your yard.

Provide Plenty of Water to Your Oak

Your new tree will require water depending on its soil drainage to reach its full potential. Your tree should be watered at most once a day. After three years, water your tree with approximately 1-1/2 gallons of water every inch of its trunk.

Remove Tree Stakes Early On

This is the take the training wheelsidea. If a tree is too young to be able to stand on its feet, it shouldn’t have stakes. After the tree has been planted for some time and is able to stand on its own, it should be taken down.

If the tree can sway in wind, the trunk will be stronger.

Pruning Your Oak Tree Properly

The pruning required for new oak trees is minimal. It is important to watch out for low branches as the tree grows. If they reach too close to ground level, it would be a good idea to prune them.

It is important to remove damaged or dead limbs and suckers from the trunk when pruning a new tree.

Fertilize Only When Needed

You may think fertilizing is essential for new trees. However, fertilizing when you don’t need to can lead to more harm than good.

It’s fine to fertilize the tree when it’s first planted. However, after that, you should take a closer look at it and assess its condition. Fertilizing is required if the tree shows signs of illness.

The Take-Away!

Trees can add beauty and charm to outdoor spaces. However, they require special care and attention, particularly at young ages, and may be susceptible to various diseases.

Prevention is the best way to stay ahead. However, don’t panic if you do notice a symptom. There are methods to help your tree fight the disease and live a long, healthy life.