I need tree help!

[trophy8]

These trees were planted by the builder when we bought our house in 2016. They’ve been fine so far. I’ve given them an organic type of fertilizer a few times called trifecta. I don’t know why some branches seem dead. I don’t want both to die!

[Texas270wsm]

Need to see a pic of the trunk and how’s it’s planted (to deep maybe, mulched piled up on trunk)
Trim away dead branches , add some 14-14-14 around drip line and hopefully she’ll bounce back

[trophy8]

Yeah I know I need to pull grass out of there lol.

[sp-bow]

Hopefully they did a good job when the planted it, sometimes the don't. As stated above 14 14 14 would be good or a deep root feeding would even be better. Also remove the dead branches.

[Huntindad]

What kinda tree is it? You may be better off getting a larger tree to begin with.

[Texas270wsm]

The red oak looks okay, might be a little deep. No more than 1/2” mulch around that trunk to be safe. Is the sick guy a chinquapin? I see bark blast (bark splitting of trunk) which isn’t good. I’d bet it was to Planted to deep and would also be looking to replace it
Sorry but a lost cause imo

[MadHatter]

Did those branches just never bud, or have you been losing leaves?

[Sackett]

Looks like it could be Phytophthora? Get a bottle of a systemic fungicide (Monterrey Agri-Fps a good one ) and l apply per directions

[Lungbustr]

Why did they plant them right on top of the sidewalk? If things go right they wont stay tiny with tiny root systems forever.

[trophy8]

Went to the local nursery. They said they are ok. The soil just isn’t great quality which I knew. They sold me some soil conditioning stuff. Iron and soil acidifier