Knowledgebase
Monterrey Oak - Dead or Still recovering from the Freeze #759295
Asked June 30, 2021, 1:04 PM EDT
I have a Monterrey Oak that is 15 years old and we love that tree. With the freeze this winter it lost all its leaves and we have been waiting in hopes that it will come back. The only new growth is coming directly from the trunk (we have some new growth coming directly from the trunk up to 7/8 feet high) and also at the base where a new tree looks like it is growing from the roots at the ground. There are no leaves coming out on the branches. Is there any chance that if we wait (even to next year) that the tree may leaf out from the branches? Or is it dead and do we need to cut to the ground and just let the new growth sprouting from the ground grow up to a new tree?
Travis County Texas
Expert Response
Monterrey Oaks didn't fair too well this year. The good news is that the roots are alive and the tree is leafing out from the main trunk. It might be worth trying to keep. The freeze was a set back and recovery will be a long process, but your tree is already well established and will most likely be able to rebound.
I would recommend a little extra care. Be sure to give them deep (but infrequent) waterings around the dripping (which is at the edge of the canopy) during dry spells. It would help the tree if you added a layer of compost (1") and mulch (2") around the tree, but not against the trunk. The reason this is so helpful to the tree, is that it mimics the forrest environment where trees typically grow in the wild. As leaves shed in the forest, it creates a natural layer of compost that makes the soil nutritious and less compact, which makes it easier for the roots to grow.
Don't be discouraged if you're not seeing a lot of top grow right now. Do everything you can to encourage a healthy root system between now and next spring, and you'll start to see some progress.
As the tree recovers, it would be a good idea to have a certified arborist come out this spring and maybe every-other spring after that, to make strategic cuts to help prune and guide the shape of the tree.
Thank you so much!!! It gives me hope!
