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ornamental flower tree dies back after pruning

8 years ago

My in-laws purchased a cabin a few years ago and there is some flowering ornamental tree (not sure what, but not an apple, or cherry) that has been neglected for years. This spring, as it was just starting to flower (mid-March), I was at the cabin and pruned off quite a few of the tangled mess of branches, some living and some dead. It looked a lot better when I was done, and all the branches were healthy and pushing leaves.

I'm now back for the first time since then (end of May) and nearly every branch that I pruned another branch off of is dead. The only living branches are ones that did not have any substantial pruning done to them. (see photos)

Could infected tools have caused this die-back within two months? Any other ideas? This is SW Missouri, so it's been really wet this spring: fungal infection? I don't see any signs of it, but I'm not very experienced.

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Comments (7)

bellafiore
8 years ago
Looks like this could be just a really old overgrown shrub, in which case the old branches that are not producing should be cut down to stubs. New branches will come up from the bottom. If it is indeed a tree, I would still cut all the branches that are dead or cut it down altogether and plant something new.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
8 years ago
I think I see splits in the bark down near where the 5(?) Branches come off the main trunk a few inches above the grass. You might have just pruned at the wrong time as in before whatever disease hit it. Or I guess the tools could have transferred a disease. Seems quick though.
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Hello Holly. If those "small shoots" are what I think they are (vertical sprouts off horizontal branches?) then they can all come off at any time and should. There's no rule that will keep you from taking off any excess wood right now (although: be aware that if you have fireblight, which can happen on new growth and blooms, you need to take special precautions.) So remove that rampant growth, and any diseased or dead wood, and while you're at it take out branches that clog the center of the tree. When two branches cross and rub remove one. You should be able to do most of your work with nippers and loppers, and if you need the saw use it cautiously until you gain a little feel for what you're doing. Provide for air and light to all parts of the tree. Remove stuff that points straight down or straight up. Step back often while working and look at the tree. There's several people on this board that can give you more experienced answers, so be prepared to get other, better opinions. I write as a relative newbie but one with perhaps an insight to the challenges facing the less experienced, as I am one ... :-) Good luck, Mark
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Embothrium
8 years ago
It's a flowering crab apple that is having some kind of serious problem. If you are in the North maybe this past winter was too much for it.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
All of these branches that are now dead were alive and just starting to flower when I pruned it, so it wasn't winter-kill.

I agree, toronado, that it seems quick for a disease from the tools. What makes me suspect it isn't an already-present-before-pruning disease is that the healthy branches are still healthy.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
All of these branches that are now dead were alive and just starting to flower when I pruned it, so it wasn't winter-kill.

==>>> you cant make that presumption ... they could have had just enough juice in them to flower.. but not leaf out ...

i higholy doubt.. it had anything to do with the pruning .... and i also dont believe.. disease works that fast ...

i dont see any weeds in that lawn.. is it sprayed for such??? ..

gotta run

ken
bellafiore
8 years ago
Really doesn't matter why the branches died...if it's ugly and misshapen beyond fixing, it's time to remove and replace with a pretty, new plant.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Ken, I hadn't thought about what chemicals might have gone on the grass. The lawn was newly sown this winter/spring, which accounts for some of lack of weeds, but it's possible there were chemicals sprayed during the process.

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