Sometimes the signs are too obvious to ignore. I have been monitoring the conchs at the base of this oak for many years.
Next, a species of bracket fungi colonized in a crevasse at its base several years ago and have continually replaced several generations of fruiting bodies.
The final sign is a huge hole under the base. Long sticks can be pushed deep down in the earth.
When I removed these today, they were actually cold on a warm day.
I will miss this tree, but it seems to lean toward the neighbors pier. That liability was its death blow.
I hope I am here to record the Watt Tree Service team’s removal of this huge oak. Sad but absolutely necessary.
FLOWER
floweralley 
We have a huge oak in our front yard that was huge when we built the house 40 years ago. It shades most of our front yard and keeps our porch shaded all summer. Sadly, I have been seeing it decline the past few years and I am afraid my trusted arborist will have bad news this spring. All things come to an end.
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It is hard to make the decision to remove a mature tree. We will removing another huge oak that has its roots through our septic lines. This one has grown quickly and drops pollen tassels, leaves, acorns, caterpillars and their frass onto our deck. We will miss the shade but not the constant clean-up.
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It is hard to let a shade tree go, but perhaps someone could use it for firewood?
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We call Mr. Flower, Lumberjack. He loves playing with wood and noisy power tools.
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