Contractors removed three dead Oak trees which fronted the historic Barrett House on Lorton Road. The property is being readied to enter Fairfax County’s Resident-Curator Program. Photo by Susan Laume/The Connection
Three stately Oak trees graced the front of the historic Barrett House on Lorton Road for about 60 years. Sadly, the trees joined a surge of oak tree deaths in Virginia, coming to notice since 2019. Generally trees die slowly, but several oaks across the Commonwealth were noted to have sudden browning of leaves. The reasons could be many: an unusually wet season followed by a very dry one; soil compacting; or secondary factors including root rot, canker, beetles, for insect borers. For more information on inspection and care of oaks and other tree species, see the Virginia Department of Forestry guides at https://dof.virginia.gov/.