[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[cjatkin at cox.net]

C. Atkinson
85202
cjatkin at cox.net

We have a mature silk oak in our backyard.  Our backyard is grass.  Generally, it does a major leave drop in the spring.  This year, the leaf drop has continued through the summer and the tree is beginning to look bare.  Also, there are many dead branches.  And, I noticed a sap-type substance on one branch I just removed.  A few years ago, we lost a very large branch from the tree.  There was a sap-type substance on the branch that broke off. We've never fertilized or watered the tree in any special manner. It is watered when we water the lawn.  Can you tell me what might be wrong with the tree and what we can do to save it?  We've lived in our home for about 10 years and bought the house partly due to this mature tree. Thanks for your help.