Whatever that bondage is that's encasing the rootball is the likely cause.

tj

What is that stuff on the ground. I can't tell if it's pieces of tile or wood or what. I guess that's what TJ is talking about. Whatever it is, does it extend underground?

If you're getting green new growth it's not dead, but the black on the trunk bottom is weird, I assumed those were rocks on the soil.Is it a live oak? They lose their leaves in spring and put out new ones, did it defoliate? I can't see anything that would worry me if it were my tree besides the black on the trunk,maybe my eyeballs are not working as good as someone elses.

A good indicator that a plant is alive is when it flowers.

I suspect the black stuff on the trunk is from a brush fire. And that stuff around the trunk all looks bad. Poor thing just has obstacle after obstacle thrown at it, and it keeps going on. A lesson for all of us!

Dan

I apologize for taking so long in responding! Crazy few days of meetings. Anyway, I think that we probably need to look at what the bondage at the bottom of the tree is. I will let you all know what the status is after we excavate around the trunk!

@Poaky, it simply does not grow at all. I realize that an oak tree would lose its leaves and then grow back, but each year it only produces a teeny tiny bit of leaves and then stagnates. That is why I am concerned.

Thanks so much for everyone's help!

It might need to be inoculated with soil fungus from under a healthy oak tree. Then keep it mulched.