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American elm barely blooming

15 years ago

I've lived here for four years and this tree has never been in amazing health, always some insect damage on the leaves and fungal spots. The leaves fall early every year. This time of year it should be in full bloom, and it looks like very few branches have any flowers or buds. A similar aged elm in my backyard is full of flowers. I love this tree and I don't want to see it go. I had an arborist look at it two years back and he offered to spray it for something like $700. I can't convince my husband to pay that annually to keep this tree alive. I'm also not sure that he was trustworthy if you know what I mean.

So two questions, do you agree with me that it is an American elm, and do I have any choice besides watch it die?

Photos can be seen here- http://gs98.photobucket.com/groups/l264/GA6NA3DUQU/?albumview=grid

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Comments (9)

siennact
Original Author
15 years ago
two of the pictures (close ups in the album)
My son is in the first one for size reference. He is five.

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Close up of one of the few blossoms for ID-
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Here is a link that might be useful: elm tree pics
siennact
Original Author
15 years ago
anyone...? not even a snide comment? I'm shocked!
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bengz6westmd
15 years ago
OK, here's a snide comment-- where the heck are you? Just kidding. We need that info tho.
bengz6westmd
15 years ago
Btw, that's a beautiful old Amer elm. Hardly ever see one in the mid-atlantic states any more. The one at my place growing up was similar, before it got nuked by DED in 1975.
siennact
Original Author
15 years ago
I'm in zone 6, Connecticut. Thanks for the snide comment!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
sorry .. i am with hubby on this one... is that snide ...

no tree is worth 700 bucks per year... in my estimate ...

btw .. what was the arborists diagnosis 2 years back.. when he recommended the $700 treatment .....

ken
bengz6westmd
15 years ago
In Connecticut, DED has been long present. So, it's possible that the elm is somewhat resistant, but DED is gradually killing it. There also Elm yellows, if that's present (it's rampant on my lot). Did the "arborist" say if it had symptoms of DED? What was the recommended "treatment" for -- DED, insects, etc?

It looks like it has a large lawn for a root zone, so you could rule out soil disturbance/compaction. Fertilizing the root zone of the tree won't make a difference in the long run, tho providing a grass-free (mulched) area in all or part of the root zone can bolster an old tree.

Anyways, might be best to get some more opinions on the tree from some different arborists. I agree -- it'd be a shame to loose it.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
That's an elm in decline from what I can see from here. Plant something else underneath now and get ready for the inevitable.

Dan
siennact
Original Author
15 years ago
Unfortunately I don't remember exactly what the arborist said but it was not DED. I think he recommended an oil and something else, two sprays, and they sounded like standard insecticide/antifungal preventatives. The leaves don't turn yellow at all, they go from green to brown and fall very early.

If I can reach a branch with some leaves I think I could take it to the New Haven Ag station and ask someone there to look at it. I called once and I spent a long time trying to convince the woman that it was really an elm. Thanks for the comments.

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