Knowledgebase
How to save a large Willow Oak tree #681335
Asked February 21, 2021, 8:14 AM EST
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
The symptoms on this tree's trunk appear to be from Hypoxylon, a common fungal pathogen which can cause irreversible and significant damage. We suggest consulting a certified arborist to be sure, and it's likely the tree will have to be removed for safety, given its location. Here is some more information regarding this infection from Clemson University (about a quarter of the way down the page): https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/oak-diseases-insect-pests/
Unfortunately, many oaks have suffered decline in recent years, likely due to various cumulative stresses experienced by trees living in suburban or urban conditions. While it can sometimes seem as though an ailment appeared suddenly, trees are usually experiencing chronic stress for years before symptoms become obvious. At that point, it is often too late to mitigate the impacts from stress and the tree spirals into decline. If you plant a replacement, this is not to say that another oak would be a poor choice; in fact, our developed environment would greatly benefit from the addition of more oaks to replace those that are lost. Oaks as a group are one of, if not the best, tree type in our area with the highest wildlife benefit, and when well-cared-for, can live for centuries.
The second and third links on this page lead to arborist search tools, if needed: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/how-do-you-decide-when-remove-tree
Miri