Question
Last fall I planted two 150 lb Shumard Oaks.  In June, when temperatures in Dallas soared and the draught started, I assumed that the trees were getting enough water from my sprinkler system.  Three weeks ago one of the trees lost a significant number of leaves and developed bubbly white excretions on the trunk that drew ants and little brown (beetle looking) bugs.  I sprayed the tree with insecticide and started watering the oak at a soaker rate for about an hour 3 times a week.  New leaves have sprouted and the bubbly white excretions are no longer visible.  However, the tree trunk is stained with sap.  I showed the bug to a horticulturist who said that the bug was not a tree borer.  She said that the tree must be rotting from the inside out and recommended that I cut it down now before roots made removal difficult.  Can the tree be saved, or should I cut it down?
Thanks
Sam

Answer
You can check to see if the tree is still alive by starting near the end of an upper outer branch and scrap a small bit of bark off --if the color under the bark is green the branch and tree is still alive. If the color under the bark is brown the branch is dead at this point on the branch. If brown continue down the branch scrapping at intervals until you find green or reach the trunk. Other branches can be checked if you find no green.  If the tree still has green foliage I would not cut it. Planting trees especially this large at this time of the year is very stressful on the tree. The soaker hose is ok but it is difficult to determine the amount of water you are putting out. One way with the soaker is dig down and if the ground is moist down to 4-6 inches you are putting out enough water. Another--one I prefer_-is place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Trees need about an inch or two of water usually per week. BUT with the drought I would water every third day with the 1 inch of water. Do this for about a month or until the drought is over then water once a week. If you have not done so I would mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. Pine straw is good. This will help hold moisture around the roots. Newly planted oaks sometimes do not look too good especially of planted late (normal planting time is fall or early spring).

I doubt there are decay fungi in the trunk--young tree rarely are infected with decay fungi. The tree will look sparse this year but should look better next spring. Do not fertilize the tree for a couple of years this could further damage the root system. I think the tree will be ok.