We planted a bur oak about 3-4 months ago in our yard. It did fine for the first few weeks, but a few leaves started to yellow towards the top around 3-4 weeks after planting. I figured it was just the stress of being in a new environment, so I didn’t pay much attention. The tree continued to decline steadily, and the top is now completely defoliated. There is no consistent leaf drop. Some leaves fall and some don’t. I can’t see it as being stress anymore, as we planted around fifteen other trees and all are healthy. The disease spreads from the top down, and affects the tips of the branches first. This year’s new growth is only slightly affected, whereas older growth has been severely damaged. The defoliated branches are showing no signs of new growth and appear brittle and weak. It spread slowly at first, but has started to move faster as the tree weakens. I think it’s Oak Wilt, as the symptoms first appeared in summer and it spreads from the top down, but I’m not sure. It also looks a lot like bacterial scorch, but I read that bacterial scorch mostly affects trees in the red oak family, not white like this tree. Also, please ignore the large mass in the top of the tree, a robin decided to build a nest there back in early June. Any identification help will be much appreciated. I truly hope the tree can be saved.
Thank you for your help,
Peter