Oak trees turning brown? (growing, fertilizers, yard, leaves)

[calif]

Our oak trees are turning yellow and brown. This doesn't usually happen in July does it? Anyone know what would cause this? It is throughout our community, although not every tree is hit with it.

[si33]

...id definately have an arborist check out this situation..though i cant say for certain, it sounds like the early signs of sudden oak death..a nasty disease which has made its way into the state and kills several species of oaks fairly quickly after it infects them...
its possible that there is something else going on..how old are the trees? and how much of the tree is yellowing... its not abnormal for trees like valley or blue oaks to shed some leaves during really hot and dry weather..but if the tree/trees all seem to be doing this,or if the foliage browns and remains on the trees..its time to have them checked out..

[calif]

I just talked to someone up here that claims that it is because of the intense heat we've been having. We've had intense heat before and this hasn't happened. I'm not sure that she is right, but I'm also not sure I want to pay an arborist out to check it.

Thanks for your reply.

[Miborn]

Oh I don't know about the heat. I am in Idaho and it gets plenty hot here and we have Oaks and they do fine.
How much are they watered, have they been fertilized lately?

[calif]

Well, they are all over the area, that is what concerns me. Not every tree has it but it's about every other at this point. Some are on empty lots and no one waters them or fertilizes them, they are just growing wild. But, we have quite a few in our yard and on our property line. The leaves are dropping like crazy. I guess I can start watering them, seems a little late though now.

What does sudden oak death look like?

[TheDragonslayer]

Sudden oak death has been reported here in Humboldt county. I personally have not seen it because I live on the coast and there are no oaks here.

Here is a website for sudden oak death.California Oak Mortality Task Force - Sudden Oak Death

[calif]

Thanks Dragonslayer, I looked that up earlier, didn't find it as helpful as I'd hoped.

[wit-nit]

Your symptoms indicate tree stress. Stress is caused by several factors, water, disease, environment.
Best advice as mentioned above; Have an 'Arborist' physically check them out...it's a lot cheaper than having to cut them all down and drag them out. Could cost you more in the long run.

[calif]

I do hope that if it is stress that they will recover.

[Miborn]

Actually if you have a garden center that sells plants, fertilizers and things than if you take them a small branch of leaves they should be able to tell you something. Or they may know what is going on in your town with the trees.
Oakes are great trees I hope you can figure it out.
Oakes can be over watered but that does not sound like the problem. I don't think it is to late to water make a well at the base of the tree and fill it up in the morning and night see if it makes a difference.