What kind of tree is this? And help me save it.....PICS

15 years ago

This tree is in the back corner of my lot behind my shed. It sits in front of my brush pile....where I put my leaves, fallen branches, grass clippings, etc.... I haven't paid much attention to it in the 6 years I have been in my house. It was always just there.....

But last year my elderly neighbor pointed out to me that there was a some sort of vine or tree (and a significant amount of it) choking out the mature large trees in the area. He asked if I would go into the woods and cut the vine where ever I saw it coming out of the ground....I did....and lo and behold this year, this little tree has some flowers and new growth on it. There must have been some of the vine wrapped around the tree that I never noticed.

So, what is it?

And since I am not an arborist in any sense of the word....what should I do to help it flourish?

It seems like the main leader of the tree is growing out and horizontally.....is there anything that should be done about that?

I think I remember seeing a few small peaches on the ground a few years back, but I didn't pay any attention to them....thought maybe some animals had dropped them in the area.

Could it be a peach tree?

Here are the pics:

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Comments (8)

pineresin
15 years ago
Yep, Peach.

Resin
rdak
15 years ago
I agree, peach.

Your soil is in desperate need of organic matter. Pile grass clippings mixed with wood chips over a layer of compost over the entire area up to a couple feet beyond the drip line for starters.
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tough set of pix ... but that first one makes me think that much of the canopy is gone ... and with the rest of the damage ... i tend to think this tree is in sever declline.. perhaps what tom menat when its course is set ... i would plan on its destruction ... if space is available.. i might plant a replacement ... so when this one goes... you are already ahead of the game on the new one ... oh crikey ... do i see plastic near that trunk ... do you think the whole yard was covered in plastic.. before the stone was put down ... if so.. i am stunned ... third from last pic ...more info about this .... does this tree threaten anything in the area ... if so.. immediate removal is probably best ... i note.. all pics taken in landscape ... came out properly ... the one time you turned your gizmo to take a portrait. or tall pic.. it came out sideways ... go figure ... ken
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
are the flowers on the old mature arching trunk consistent with the younger straighter upright trunks ...

if so .. then you are above the graft ...

and if so .. i would remove the old arching trunk .. and let one of the smaller upright trunks take over leadership ...

with no insult to the roots... and a reduced canopy.. the thing will most likely explode in growth ...

last pic.. i would opt for the larger trunk/branch that is behind the bifurcated branch in front.. and the wisp below ...

is it within your capability to do such??? if not.. we would need better pix of the branch i state and its connection to the trunk.. to try to give more specific cutting instructions ...

i would also place a 3 foot .. tree on center ... ring of wood chips around the trunk ... and keep it properly watered ... i would NOT fertilize .. and i never had good luck with grass clippings ... as they tend to stink when they rot.. and have the potential to mat and actually repel water ... when it is done the wrong way ... apparently rdak has some tricks up his sleeve ...

good luck

ken
pineresin
15 years ago
Also looks like it could do with a lot more sun, and less shade. Probably not so easy to manage!

Resin
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
I agree with the above diagnoses and the poor thing also looks like its soil is compacted as well. The growth habit certainly is indicative of too much shade. I'm not sure about the grass clippings bit, but mulching is in order and make sure it doesn't touch the trunk directly. The mulch, however, may allow critters to overwinter so care should be taken in this regard.

Dan
Embothrium
15 years ago
Flowers look like those of a hybrid almond (Prunus x persicoides) to me. After it leafs out it will be possible to tell which it is by the leaves.

Production of some almonds later instead of peaches would also be a good hint.
rdak
15 years ago
Yes Ken. I just mix the grass clippings with the wood chips a little so they are kind of co-mingled if you get what I mean. It makes water and air go through a little better IMHO.

You know, kind of like a lasagna compost pile.

By mixing the two together a little, and spreading the entire mix as a mulch, it gets rid of the stinky layering problem you might get when using only a thick layer of grass clippings.

For me, mixing the grass clippings a little with the wood chips alleviates that problem. And the plants do very well in my experience.
ahuehuete
15 years ago
peach

What kind of tree is this? And help me save it.....PICS

Comments (8)

pineresin

rdak

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