Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Leaves of a swamp chestnut oak - Sarah Macor/Shutterstock If there's a swampy corner in your backyard, the swamp chestnut oak ...

Q. I have a large oak tree in my backyard that has been in decline recently. The grass under the tree does poorly. Does the tree take away the nutrients the grass needs? Should I apply more fertilizer ...

The roots of that big tree in your yard may be infiltrating your underground plumbing right now. If the species is shallow-rooted, it's even more likely.