Chimera Pin Oak?

[2LaneCruzer]

I have nice Pin Oak in my front yard; but something puzzles me. The East half is a very yellowish green, and the West half is a dark green. I can't figure it out, unless the tree is a "Chimera", which means it is one body, with the genetics of two different individual trees. Any thoughts?

 

[ponytug]

Even if it is a chimeric pin oak, why would one half be lighter green? Do you have light green and dark green pin oaks? Chimeric trees tend to share nutrients from the combined root system, so I would not expect much of a color difference, and when I have seen known chimeric trees the ownership of each branch on the trunk has been apparent.

Could it be differential sun exposure and / or a nutrient limit in the soil there? E.g. the soil is borderline too basic for oaks?

All the best,

Peter

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Even if it is a chimeric pin oak, why would one half be lighter green? Do you have light green and dark green pin oaks? Chimeric trees tend to share nutrients from the combined root system, so I would not expect much of a color difference, and when I have seen known chimeric trees the ownership of each branch on the trunk has been apparent.

Could it be differential sun exposure and / or a nutrient limit in the soil there? E.g. the soil is borderline too basic for oaks?

All the best,

Peter

I have fertilized the yard, almost every year for 50 years, except for the last two. I even added heavy Gypsum to work on the clay, so I doubt it's nutrients, but can't rule it out. My yard is full of native oaks, this is the only one I have personally planted, and it's the only one that has this characteristic.

 

[garry1p]

Not much help, but maybe it doesn't identify as a pin oak.

 

[bigtiller]

I have no idea what is going on with your tree.
I have seen a sickly looking tree return to a healthy life after having food and water.

The horticulturist drilled holes with a bulb auger and placed fertilizer tree spikes in them along the drip edge, about 2' apart. He left instructions with the owner to water it heavily every other morning for 2 weeks.