On Mon, 07 Apr 2003 07:22:27 -0500, James wrote:

I have a live oak that is not blooming as well as the ohers. It also
has a lot of white patches on it that look like barnacles. Any ideas?
TIA for any help that I get. James
Second question first: Your white patches are most likely lichens.
They are a symbiotic organism made up of fungi and algae. They take
nothing from teh tree except support and are not a concern.

First question: We need more info to answer. It could be normal
variation within a species and the tree may be fine, or it could be a
host of other factors that are causing it to fare poorly. Has there
been any recent construction, digging, trenching, or compaction
(driving over the root zone, parking under the tree, etc.)? Has there
been a recent application of a chemical that may affect this tree
(herbicide, weed-n-feed, salt to melt ice, etc.)? Has the grade
around the tree changed recently (soil added or removed from the root
zone)? When you look at the base of the tree, do you see root flares
arching away from the trunk, or is it straight like a telephone pole?
Answering these questions would give a more complete picture and might
help us give suggestions, but for a complete analysis you should have
an arborist look at the tree in person.

good luck,
Keith Babberney
ISA Certified Arborist
For more info about the International Society of Arboriculture, please visit http://www2.champaign.isa-arbor.com/.
For consumer info about tree care, visit http://www2.champaign.isa-arbor.com/.../consumer.html