TBH plant docs...what's wrong with my oaks?

[PSD Ryan]

I planted 2 shumard red oaks about a year ago from 10 gallon size. I've mineral spiked them, kept them watered, and they've done really well, became nice and full, and darker than the neighbor's (he planted 2 at the same time). Lately they've been looking scorched and a lot of leaves have fallen off. There are still green twigs and new growth, so I know they aren't dead.

I've only been watering them with the lawn sprinkler (15 min, then 15 min 6 hours later once a week), so I'm sure this is just heat stress, but want to make sure. After this set in I've started watering them with the hose for 30 minutes every day on a light stream so it will soak in deep.





This little white bubble keeps coming back and it's the only thing that has me worried it might be more than heat stress.

[justin156bc]

The top is def heat stress. The bottom looks like something bored into the tree.

[Sackett]

This is coming from an Arborist; For one, I would dig that tree up and plant it somewhere else in your yard. 5 years from now, you're going to have sidewalk issues where the roots are either lifting the sidewalk or pulling moisture away and lowering it. Secondly, that tree is severely "root bound". That bottom root girdling the tree is going to, if not already, strangle the tree and kill it. You might be able to cut that root away from the tree without harming it and save the tree.

As far as watering goes, don't water every day. Water 2-3 times a week with a deep watering, allowing the roots to "dry" between waterings. You can kill a tree with too much water just as fast as not watering.

[Brute Killer]

5 years from now, you're going to have sidewalk issues where the roots are either lifting the sidewalk or pulling moisture away and lowering it

Ditto that. The house we moved into about 7 years ago had (drought killed it last year) a tree in between the front sidewalk (up to the front door) and the drive way. There is lt least 12 feet between the walk & the drive (2-3x what you have) and the sidewalk sank & the driveway cracked. The tree was about 18 inches in diameter at the base.
Like that when we moved in.

[txtimetravler]

I didn't know it was 'legal' to plant a tree in the easement like that.

I would think the bottom is being strangled by something.
The brown leaves might be a fungus, but I'm no expert.

[Cajun Blake]

here's your future ..... gotta move the tree or else