Why do oak trees shed their leaves

Edit Close. Toggle navigation. Live oak leaves Although live oaks Quercus virginiana are considered evergreen because they hold onto their leaves through the winter, many live oaks drop most or all of their foliage at this time of year. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission.

These are 10 of the best espresso makers and accessories on sale now. Follow Us. Read our post here! Why is my live oak looking sick and dropping leaves? Live Oaks Have a Leaf Exchange in Spring For many trees, dropping leaves is a way of preparing to go dormant during the cold winter months. Live oaks, however, can lose leaves throughout the year and generally stay green during the winter. The major live oak leaf drop takes place in the Spring.

Sometimes, these leaves may even have veins that turn brown while interveinal areas remain green. Although the oak wilt fungus may attack the tree in the late winter and early spring, oak wilt symptoms are most often observed in the summer. Look closely at the senescing dying leaves leaves, particularly for new buds that are found at the base of the leaf petiole. This bud may be very small early on, but they become more prominent as the older leaves begin to die.

Shortly after the old leaf drops, you should see new tiny leaves from those new buds. If these buds are present, your tree is most likely experiencing its normal yearly leaf cycle.

Dropping leaves can make the tree look sparse and sickly. If you do not see any buds, check to see if the branches are brittle snaps when you bend it and are brown on the inside instead of greenish-white. That branch is most likely dead.