I'm nervous I'm going to lose my red oak. These spots appeared all over the trunk. Is there a tree expert on here that can help me out?

Not an arborist, but my Shumard Oak has that, and it seems to be a fungal infection likely brought on by tree trimmers wearing spikes and not cleaning their equipment.

It's not necessarily a death knell. In my case, the choices are: a) water more and fertilize to help the tree's health fight the problem; or b) give it a few more years to die naturally, then replace it with something more drought tolerant or otherwise desirable.

Not an arborist but had similar issue with post oak. Arborist diagnosed as borer beetles. I treated with a systemic insecticide and it cleared it up.

This is a 80 foot tall red oak. Hard to replace. I appreciate the ideas. It get's plenty of water so I'll try fertilizer and treat the bugs.

Stem bleeding or "bleeding" cankers can be caused by different things. Doesn't look like borers from the pic since I detect no frass or sawdust being "kicked" out of the holes, so may not need insecticide. Fungus can cause it, but these fungi are mostly death sentences and hard to treat. Bacteria is your most likely culprit. Slime flux or "wet wood" is a bacteria that causes fermentation in the sap wood and it must release gases, thus the rupturing and "bleeding". Not something you see in healthy trees, but times have been rough recently (freeze, drought, etc.). No proven treatment for the bacteria either, so health and vigor are targeted. Get it fertilized ASAP and be prepared to deep water all spring/summer if it isn't raining. Sprinkler system keeping grass watered is not enough. Consult a reputable ISA Certified Arborist soon to fertilize. Depending on what he sees, he may recommend root/soil invigoration with an air spade tool. Depends on how much you wish to spend and if you want to go "full court press" on turning it around. Good luck!

BobCatDave said:

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Stem bleeding or "bleeding" cankers can be caused by different things. Doesn't look like borers from the pic since I detect no frass or sawdust being "kicked" out of the holes, so may not need insecticide. Fungus can cause it, but these fungi are mostly death sentences and hard to treat. Bacteria is your most likely culprit. Slime flux or "wet wood" is a bacteria that causes fermentation in the sap wood and it must release gases, thus the rupturing and "bleeding". Not something you see in healthy trees, but times have been rough recently (freeze, drought, etc.). No proven treatment for the bacteria either, so health and vigor are targeted. Get it fertilized ASAP and be prepared to deep water all spring/summer if it isn't raining. Sprinkler system keeping grass watered is not enough. Consult a reputable ISA Certified Arborist soon to fertilize. Depending on what he sees, he may recommend root/soil invigoration with an air spade tool. Depends on how much you wish to spend and if you want to go "full court press" on turning it around. Good luck!

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Thanks!!!

Hire an arborist. I have three huge red oaks and a 30ft one that was an acorn in my flower bed that wouldn't die 20 years ago. Love mine, too, would hate to lose one.