Flower Gardens

» Cottage_Garden - oak tree problem stag horn desease

Hi Cindy, Based on your description I would not expect the deer to be causing the problem.

Spots can be bacterial or fungal or caused by an insect or could even be related to freeze or hail damage or overwatering or overfertilizing or even accidental herbicide damage .... without having a specific diagnosis it is impossible to suggest a treatment.

Also, sometimes spots are cosmetically ugly but not threatening and so might not need to be treated, depending on what is causing them.

If you are in the U.S., I would suggest you work with your local county extension to obtain a specific identification of the spots and then work from there.

In most cases, if there is a disease or pest problem causing the spots, it is also a good idea to rake up the affected leaves as they drop (either during the season or in the autumn) and dispose of them in the trash. This usually helps limit sources of infection for nearby plants and for the following year.

I might also mention that monthly fertilization for any tree seems like a lot. Most established trees in the landscape do not need it. Too, if the tree is near a lawn that is regularly fertilized it is likely benefitting from that and would not need additional supplementing. Newly planted trees usually do well if mulched and watered adequately. So the only reason you would need to feed the tree would be if your soil is deficient.(Your county extension can help you judge if the tree needs fertilizing or not as well.)

Sorry I can't be more specific for you but I hope this helps you get started on researching what to do.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden