Red Oak damage - Ask Extension
Just noticed our red oak is showing some damage on the south side of the tree. Some missing bark...strange small mounded black growth...and it appear...
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Red Oak damage #302740
Asked February 24, 2016, 11:49 AM EST
Just noticed our red oak is showing some damage on the south side of the tree. Some missing bark...strange small mounded black growth...and it appears - woodpecker holes?. Can you tell me if this is a reason for concern - and if so, recommend any treatment? I have attached two photos of the damaged tree. The tree is probably 15+ years old.
Don Womack
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Don,
These signs of fungal growth and peeling bark (I don't think this is woodpecker damage, but even if it is, it's a worrisome sign) are good reasons to be concerned about this tree.
Many factors can come into play when we see these symptoms. They can range from poor site placement (is the soil proper for the plant?), to damage to the tree (lighting strikes, lawn-mower or string trimmer damage, other physical blows to the trunk), soil compaction from construction or work or other auto traffic over the root zone, and lots of other factors. Any of these physical challenges can weaken a tree and make it much more vulnerable to insect predation and diseases. What you are seeing on this tree are symptoms (not causes) of some under-lying problem
It's beyond the scope of this web service to give you a definitive diagnosis but if this tree is valuable to you, you should contact a certified forester/arborist who can come out and assess just what is going on. He or she will be able to tell you if there are things you can do to halt, or control the progression of these symptoms - or they may advise that you that the tree should be removed.
Sometimes it is less expensive to remove a tree and start over with a new, healthy specimen than to spend years treating a sickly plant that may ultimately die anyway.
Here is a link to a site that can help you find a certified arborist:
http://www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2009/01/finding-tree-care-help-certified-arborists-and-mn-tree-c...
I hope this is helpful information. Please get back to us if you have further questions.
These signs of fungal growth and peeling bark (I don't think this is woodpecker damage, but even if it is, it's a worrisome sign) are good reasons to be concerned about this tree.
Many factors can come into play when we see these symptoms. They can range from poor site placement (is the soil proper for the plant?), to damage to the tree (lighting strikes, lawn-mower or string trimmer damage, other physical blows to the trunk), soil compaction from construction or work or other auto traffic over the root zone, and lots of other factors. Any of these physical challenges can weaken a tree and make it much more vulnerable to insect predation and diseases. What you are seeing on this tree are symptoms (not causes) of some under-lying problem
It's beyond the scope of this web service to give you a definitive diagnosis but if this tree is valuable to you, you should contact a certified forester/arborist who can come out and assess just what is going on. He or she will be able to tell you if there are things you can do to halt, or control the progression of these symptoms - or they may advise that you that the tree should be removed.
Sometimes it is less expensive to remove a tree and start over with a new, healthy specimen than to spend years treating a sickly plant that may ultimately die anyway.
Here is a link to a site that can help you find a certified arborist:
http://www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2009/01/finding-tree-care-help-certified-arborists-and-mn-tree-c...
I hope this is helpful information. Please get back to us if you have further questions.
