My family would really appreciate your advice. A few years ago we asked the City of Toronto to plant a white oak on our front lawn. We are in East York near Pape and O’Connor. The tree receives quite a bit of sun as there are no large trees near it, and we have been told that our soil is quite sandy. The tree grows very well every year, putting out close to a foot of new growth on the branches and has double in height already.
However, we have a problem – since we received the tree, we notice that the leaves brown, curl, and die in certain sections of the tree. This happens every year in late June or early July. I have attached a picture that were taken a few days ago, and can provide more pictures if needed.
We have had people from the city come to look – some say remove the tree and start over, some say wait and it will recover. We also asked a company in Toronto for advice and they suggested we might treat the tree as the believed it might be an infection.
We don’t know what to do. On one hand, it has grown so well and it would be a shame to start over. On the other hand, if the tree won’t recover then we don’t want to wait any longer. We would love your thoughts, thank you!
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners about your oak tree problem.
Unfortunately, the photo you mentioned was not attached to your inquiry. However, even with a photo, it is difficult to make a firm diagnosis of what is causing the leaves of your tree to turn brown and die.
Based on your description, your tree could be suffering from water stress. Oak trees need consistent moisture, especially during dry periods. If there is inadequate moisture in the soil, the tree cannot uptake enough water to compensate for what it loses through its leaves due to transpiration. The leaves turn brown and die. Note that sandy soils tend to dry out quickly.
However, there are several other possible causes of leaf loss including:
- Diseases such as oak wilt, anthracnose, or oak leaf blister.
- Pests: Insect infestations, such as oak borers or caterpillars
- Extreme temperatures
- Insufficient nutrients
- Root related issues such as damaged roots, girdled roots, root rot, that reduce the tree’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.
- Exposure to herbicides or other chemicals
- Physical damage
To determine what to do with your tree, I suggest you consult a professional arborist who is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). You can search for an ISA certified arborist here.
I hope you are able to save your tree.