What is the cause of sudden death in mature Walnut trees? We have 17 trees age 35 - 100. Last year all were healthy & this year 4 are dead & 5 more are 3/4 gone. 3 of the 4 that are dead are the younger ones, the other is about 100 yrs old. Our extension office had no idea & told us to contact a forrester. When we talked to him, he didn't know either & said he had 2 of his own trees that had died. We would appreciate any info anyone can give us. THANKS! :)

-- Vi Yeager (REsmile@netins.net), June 17, 2001

Answers

It could be spray from farm fields I have farm fields all around me . Last 5 years I had death in trees half mile back from where they spray Oak trees with curled leaves that where 80 feet tall. This year I raised hell and they lowered the sprayers and the preasure of the spray . This helped 100 percent hope this might help you. Country Friend Jack Bunyard

-- Jack Bunyard (bunyard@cnz.com), June 17, 2001.

It's hard to say without seeing the trees. Could be girdling roots, but it's unusual that so many would die at the same time. Could be a soil borne fungus such as verticillum or fuseriam. Did the trees leaf out before they died or did they look fine and just start dying?

-- Paul Marohn (Treewizard@buffalo.com), June 23, 2001.