Not seeing any pics. Anyway, not much you can do except remove the dead portions and wait. If there is not much viable growth left I would not be going in trying to shape it- it needs every leaf it has purely to sustain itself. After a year or two of looking at it you can decide whether or not it is worth keeping. I would certainly give it that amount of time, though, seeing as you have a sentimental attachment to it.

I googled it. Before it becomes that moth...it is a oleander moth. Or Polka dot moth or also called Uncle Sam moth because of it's colors. NOT good for Oleanders...as one could guess from the name lol. Who knows, maybe I will get to see one of those. But then they do eat the Oleander...so maybe...just maybe I can do without em lol Lucy

I have a similar problem... am a newbie gardner so please forgive some of my incorrect comments if any... My guy told me that the buds form in the fall for the next spring...because we had a harsh winter the buds were damaged and didn't continue the formation (growth) process in the spring. Recommended solution: wait until weather is warm, test for dead branches (scratch green test) and trim away dead branches...then wait to see if it recovers. Its a shame to see such a beautiful tree in rough shape but patience and trimming seems to be the answer

Mark, Thanks for the nice compliment on the hummer pics. I shoot with a Nikon D50 using a 70-300 lens with a macro. I use the macro setting, but I don't try to follow the hummers. I pick a likely looking flower and focus in it. When the hummer gets there the camera doesn't have to search very far to focus. It also helps that the hummers establish a pattern in there feeding, you can kinda stay ahead of them, but still, I spend a LOT of time NOT taking pictures. Carol, it is a shame that so many hybrid teas don't have much scent. We had a weird fall/winter, things were still growing way to late in the season then the temperatures dropped overnight. Anything I lost I am going to replace with old-fashion "smelly" types. Carla, I have only been growing dahlias about 5 years, and I am hooked. I have all this weird looking stuff I erected to shade my 100 or so different hostas. I had three big trees come down and was trying to keep the hostas happy, but this year those puppies are coming out and it's all roses, dahlias and plants for the hummers! Anybody like orchids? Here is a link that might be useful: Online photos of roses and such