So I get a call from a neighbor who is having some trees removed from her property. The tree company is looking for more business while they are in the neighborhood so they offer "discounts" to neighbors. Unsolicited, they call me (left a message) to inform me that the oak tree in my front yard is diseased and needs to be removed. They offer a discount of $1k with stump grinding.

They don't tell me what type of disease my tree has. Just that it is dying. I go their web site and they are not even certified arborist. Needless to say these folks will not ever get my business. Hopefully, there are people out there that will get second opinions before having a specimen tree removed at the insistence of an sham tree company.

I looked up oak wilt and don't believe my tree is affected. There are several branches that have brown leaves but they are not browning as oak wilt is described. In any case, I have a respected arborist scheduled to see my oak.