I didn't know where to locate this: Last year i noticed some red oaks were dying. The cause was attributed to the drought and catapillars from the winter moths.  This year it looks like about every red oak tree in the area had died or is showing signs of serious problems. I've counted over 30 trees, just in my neighborhood  that have died. These are large trees, I'm guessing  over 100 years old. The younger smaller trees are also bare. I do have one white oak that seems to be doing OK but I'm really afraid I may loose it also. The maple in my front yard has been sprayed for the caterpillars the past two years, and even with the spraying, the leaves are smaller than normal. This appears to be a very serious problem. just wondering if this might be more than a local issue.

Edited December 5, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
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Not aware of that problem here in Ohio River Valley / Miami River Valleys.  Ash is on a downward spiral.   Driving down the expressway, you can see lots of standing dead ash trees.

Same here Keith.  Oaks are fine but the ash and a few sugar maples are dying.

not here either..

what does your forestry extension say...

Gypsy moths decimated the oak trees here in south central PA. Hugh dead areas in the Michaux  forest and elsewhere. Seems the trees are coming back but much of the old growth is gone. Now we have the Ash Borer to contend with.

After looking at information from the state forestry, the die off is  due to what I've observed here. The gypsy moths and about 3 years of drought. The gypsy moths apparently run in  17 year cycles. From the reports, the die off is affecting most of the state of Massachusetts and also into New Hampshire . Our drought seems to have ended, though water restrictions have again been placed in town. I'm seeing caterpillars climbing my fence , the sides of my workshop and dead ones all over my driveway. The dead catipillars are apparently those leaving the maple tree that has been sprayed . According to the experts, the spray helps in the tree, but the biggest help is what ends up in the ground to kill what feeds on the roots of the tree.

According to the report, the die off  occurs mostly in Southern NE, the Middle Atlantic States and  in the Southeastern States.

Edited July 1, 20179 yr by It Was Al B

The Oak trees seem to be fine here.

 

Our Ash trees have been dead for a few years now.  I took 12 of them down over the last four years.  I do have some new Ash starts and wonder what will happen to them.  Seems the Emerald Ash Borer moves along and kills as it goes but will it stay gone or will it come back around again for the new growths?

Found out something about drought and oaks this year. During a drought the bark separates from the tree and that causes the tree to later die during the winter.