The White Oak
I have a tall oak tree that just suddenly appears to have died. Two months ago the leaves were green and now they are brown. It has the appearance of having suffered a massive disease that quietly and quickly caused all the roots to stop functioning and feeding the tree limbs. It is located within ten feet of the curb in the front corner of my lot, plainly visible to all who drive down the street.
This has created a most interesting situation that I did not anticipate. It seems that every tree service company in Greensboro has rung my doorbell over the past three weeks. Some do custom tree care, some are tree experts, some are tree trimmers, and all do tree service including tree removal and stump grinding. The eight different bids to remove the tree have been disparate, ranging up to $350 apart. When I tell the high bidders that they are way too high, they immediately give me a much lower price that is in line with the others. I ask each of them what they think in regard to the tree dying so suddenly. Several have suggested that lightning has struck it and some have shown me where they think it bolted out of the trunk.
I called the City Urban Forester because I wanted to know what was wrong with the tree, and I really wanted to know if removing it fell under the city’s purview or mine. Surprisingly he said that it was not lightning but he couldn’t be sure of what has caused it. He explained that there are many white oaks suffering from the extreme heat that we have experienced this year. He also suggested that I might yet be able to save it by watering it and excavating the soil to allow better ventilation to the roots closest to the surface. Not surprisingly, he advised that it was clearly my issue to resolve. The tree is fifty feet tall and I don’t want to cut it down if it can be resuscitated.
This has created a most interesting situation that I did not anticipate. It seems that every tree service company in Greensboro has rung my doorbell over the past three weeks. Some do custom tree care, some are tree experts, some are tree trimmers, and all do tree service including tree removal and stump grinding. The eight different bids to remove the tree have been disparate, ranging up to $350 apart. When I tell the high bidders that they are way too high, they immediately give me a much lower price that is in line with the others. I ask each of them what they think in regard to the tree dying so suddenly. Several have suggested that lightning has struck it and some have shown me where they think it bolted out of the trunk.
I called the City Urban Forester because I wanted to know what was wrong with the tree, and I really wanted to know if removing it fell under the city’s purview or mine. Surprisingly he said that it was not lightning but he couldn’t be sure of what has caused it. He explained that there are many white oaks suffering from the extreme heat that we have experienced this year. He also suggested that I might yet be able to save it by watering it and excavating the soil to allow better ventilation to the roots closest to the surface. Not surprisingly, he advised that it was clearly my issue to resolve. The tree is fifty feet tall and I don’t want to cut it down if it can be resuscitated.
Cheryl and I discussed how very similar trees are to humans. They grow up big and strong and fight off all sorts of diseases for 50-60 years and then all of a sudden, they are stricken by an unknown blight that literally sucks the life out of it in two months. No symptoms, no warnings, no clues - just drys up and dies in front of your eyes. We have physicians to diagnose our illnesses and I suppose we could find some very expensive tree doctor who could tell us what happened and how to prevent it in the future. In the meantime, like with humans, we hope and pray for the recovery of this gentle giant that has shaded us and enhanced our yard for the past 21 years.
Yesterday Cheryl pointed out to me that two or three limbs now have green leaves on them, so I guess the tree service ambulance chasers will keep ringing my doorbell and I will keep collecting their cards.
