Why are our trees dying in Falfurrias?

[Chuy]

In the past year or so, we have been having a massive tree dye off and cant figure out why. We are located about 15 miles SW of Falfurrias, in the "oak belt" west of 281. Kinda looks like Oak wilt but I'm no harborist.

Any biologists, or ranchers, or nature buffs, or tree aficionados have any idea what is going on in the Falfurrias area Oak Trees?

Hoping that someone on here would know someone that knows whats going on in the area. We were told that it was an underground disease thats spreading. Zero acorn drop in 2 1/2 years.

Any help is appreciated.

05-11-2013

10-14-2013

12-27-2013

01-26-2014


04-26-2014

[Drycreek3189]

Mine died from lack of water. About 60% near as I can tell. But I'm in East Texas, don't know about yours. Looks like you are gonna lose more than that. Sorry for your trees, that stinks !

[.270]

If not oak wilt, then drought stress. Sometimes it can take a year for the stress of a drought to show it's self, especially in large trees. Question is, do you have oak wilt in your area? If not then drought stress is likely.

[kumathebear]

Water distress I would guess, but whatever it is....a real shame. Oaks are the BEST tree IMO....

[Chuy]

It's pretty sad. We used to have so many healthy trees. Now, when we get some good wind, our roads get covered in trees. A few weeks ago, when we got that crazy storm, we lost a bunch.

[wtx223]

We have been told ours out here from couple years of drought and a super cold snap that came through several years ago.

Didnt get out of single digits for several days in a row, well below zero at night.

Lots of stress I assume.

[doghouse]

Oak wilt or Oak decline. Have it bad on my place in Mills county. They usually die from the top down. Decline takes a few years but wilt will have them dead within a year or two. Have lost 70% of my oak trees. Seems like the bigger they are they die extremely fast.

[Chuy]

We have had a bit of a drought, but no true freeze. Falfurrias stays relatively warm.

We hate to see these trees die.

[macoop]

That sucks. Oaks are great and I wish I had some of them on my place. I have mesquite trees that have died back because of the lack of rain. That's pretty tough when mesquite trees are dying.

[Boomerang]

Drought. Is there any cotton farmed in the prevailing wind direction? The defoliant can take a cumulative toll on the oaks, combine that with drought or just drought alone and they are terminated.

[Chuy]

Boomerang. No cotton near us.

We had a game warden say that the area was being hit by an underground disease of sorts, but that's all I heard.

[huntresss]

We are losing many of our oak trees here to a fungus called hypoxylon canker. It is a normal fungus that lives under the bark, but stress from the prolongs drought allows the fungus to kill the tree. It's sad to see so many mature trees dying. Worse yet, it is extremely contagious and spreads underground through the root system.

[louieagarcia]

Man thats tough to see....happening in many parts though.

[Double-Drop]

Wouldn't be surprised at all if its from several years of drought we have had.

[Chuy]

We are losing many of our oak trees here to a fungus called hypoxylon canker. It is a normal fungus that lives under the bark, but stress from the prolongs drought allows the fungus to kill the tree. It's sad to see so many mature trees dying. Worse yet, it is extremely contagious and spreads underground through the root system.

This sounds familiar as to the cause, however, i dont remeber seeing any fungus.

This sucks

We are talking 820 acres of pure oaks