Live Oak Disease?

mjrhouston

Hello, I have a newly planted 30 gal Live Oak, in the Texas heat and drought (Houston). It was planted in June and has been hand watered 3x week and lawn sprinklers 3x week. The tree developed new growth all over in July/August.

Last week I stopped the hand watering and there are many newly developed brown-yellow leaves. They are older leaves toward the bottom of the tree, the new growth is ok.

Can anyone tell from the pictures is this insect or fungus?

Would appreciate any help,

Thanks,
Charles Brown
Houston, TX USA

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bite

Hi Charles,
I think it's not a matter of parasites.
Likely it is still suffering the "transplant crisis" (it's common).
Leaves are drying and falling cause the plant is too poor of feeding rootlets (mainly located in the external part of a root system, and usually pruned by nurserymen before trade, to decrease the root volume to allow the plant transport. I do not agree).
Now the oak is trying to reach a new equilibrium above/below (" less rootlets? ok, I need to loose a few leaves, not being able to give water to all of them. To save energy, better to loose the ones far from the water pump (=roots)").

Maintain the soil wet, a light fertilization can help, be patient.
That's my opinion.


B'

mjrhouston

Thank you, I appreciate your response, I thought that might be the case so I will continue with the watering until we are blessed with some rain!

Thanks
Charlie