Is this tulip poplar going to survive?

vivititi

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

This is neighbor's 100 year old tulip poplar, died back from root loss from construction around it.

After removing excessive deadwood, it looks like in the picture.

Is it going to die or it can come back by maintenance?

No tree · More Info

Featured Answer

wisconsitom

7 years ago

How long ago was construction? Affected to what degree....ie. fill placed in root zone? Soil cut (removal of soil from previous grade)? Heavy equipment or even lots of foot traffic over root zone?

It is more than a little likely-although this will depend on the answers to my questions above-that additional die-back could occur. Trees are long-term energy storage systems, and total tree death is rare. What does happen is individual limbs die back and this then can progress through entire canopy.

Such a tree is in no more danger of falling (as a complete unit) than any other tree. Far more likely that you will see additional die-back, leading to a skeletal look, like bleached bones, as individual branches die and bark falls off.

Construction damage easily can take 5 or even more years to fully manifest. See second sentence in second paragraph-these things take time.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
i cant tell from the pics.. if it fails.. will it fall on either of those houses ...

severe root disturbance from construction .. whether thru compaction or digging is not good.. and most likely.. not something a tree will recover from ...

but it can take a long time to fail.. in tree years ...

so all you are left with.. is making sure it doesnt fall on anything ...

be nice to hear about the level of construction ...

ken
vivititi thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Related Discussions
HAVE Tree Seedlings Mimosa, Maple, Oak, Tulip Poplar, More...
Q
Comments (2)
hello i have wisteria med lavender cuttings and many different bi color iris that will be blooming very soon i am interested in mimosa and oak, plmk c
...See More
Tulip Poplar Tree Pruning
Q
Comments (6)
They really do not NEED to be pruned for the tree but in most situations folks want to mow under them. I vote for after Valentine's Day as the right time unless google reveals some reason associated wih disease or infection particular to this species. When you prune, two cuts. One to remove 75% of the branch, the next to remove alll but maybe a half inch stub. Don't get into the trunk with your cut it slows the encapulation process. ......anything else..... If by branches you mean individual leaves just rub em off before they become branches. Oh, only remove a couple branches a year. Never more than a quarter or third of the leaves at a time. It stresses the tree and it is always easier to remove more than to put a branch back on! FWIW, I prefer this tree when mature to have sone branches relatively low, maybe five or six feet high. The flowers are excellent but can be difficult to see if the lowest limbs are thirty feet up. Enjoy it, nice tree.
...See More
Dwarf Tulip Poplar & Tulip Poplar growth in pot?
Q
Comments (8)
hey i am not aware of a dwarf ... probably because i have not been looking .... but i can give you some observations on the non-dwarf ... though not a poplar.. they are a very aggressive growing tree ... so i doubt you will do well in pots ... for very long... because you will outgrow it fast ... in mineral sand.. with no fert ever... and only watering for 2 years .... i would think i was/am getting 3 to4 feet per year .... no tree ever really stops growing at some magical height ... so you will never find a MAX height ... google your common name.. find the latin name... and then add ANNUAL GROWTH RATE ... and you ought to be able to learn about its potential .... but also.. if you see one listed at less than the otherwise norm.. then that will be a dwarf.. and if you can associate a name with it ... then bob's your uncle ..... in other words.. a reduced annual growth rate... is the definition of a dwarf .... from two foot tall mail order sticks 11 years ago ... most of mine are going over 30 feet tall .... why are you limiting yourself to pots .... i really dont see this huge tree.. as a friend you will be taking on your travels... lol ... IMHO .. your only option... should you insist on pots... is BONSAI .... ken ps: i wonder on bonsai ... if you would have this tiny mature tree... with a whompin big flower ... lol .... i might have to google that .... i did.. but no luck ... and then the coffee hit.. and i gave up.. WWW not moving fast enough.. lol ....
...See More
Tulip Poplar saplings
Q
Comments (1)
I'd bet the tulip poplar whips will be a breeze. Liriodendron tulipifera are generally very easy to transplant, and now is a good time to do it. Below is a link to my guide for planting trees and shrubs. I hope it will be of some use. The sassafras may be a different story. They are notoriously hard to transplant. My suggestion is to wait until after leaf drop and keep as much of the rootball intact as you possibly can. One reason you don't commonly see Sassafras albidum in nurseries is because even pot grown specimens (which you'd expect to be tremendously easier to transplant) often don't survive planting out. It can be done, but it's just going to require a little more work and attention to detail. BTW, if you have a mature sassafras within a short distance of your flower bed, the small saplings may actually be root suckers. Root suckers are more common than seedlings and can be even harder to get to survive (because of the limited amount of roots usually available). Here is a link that might be useful: Planting a Tree or Shrub
...See More
kentrees12
7 years ago
I've observed Liriodendron for decades, it's probably my favorite tree. I'd ask the same questions that Tom has, and add this: the tree looks to be under great stress, it has been pruned to remove dead wood or maybe to 'balance' the loss of roots with the top, there are more dead branches in the top of the crown, and the foliage looks undersized. I've seen forest trees exhibit these same symptoms when the area they are growing in is heavily logged or severe weather removes many cohorts. A WAG (and I hope I'm wrong), the tree will continue to decline and become stag headed. There will be many epicormic shoots from the main limbs and trunk. It will never again regain it's former glory. It will probably live on for years, maybe decades, unless removed. Unless MASSIVE amounts of the root system were removed and the tree is structurally unstable, it won't fall. Large upper crown limbs that die may, however. Old poplars (and many other old trees) do not like to be messed with.
vivititi thanked kentrees12
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
also be nice to know where it is ... if in hurricane wind area.. would the answers above change???

you also have to wonder how this monster got so big.. without any similar trees in the pic .... wonder if there is a lot more to this story ....

and do you have any idea how they got up there for the trimming .. crikey that had to be one heck of a cherry picker ...

ken
vivititi thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
PRO
Caldwell Home & Garden
7 years ago
tulip poplar is fast growing, plant a new one
vivititi thanked Caldwell Home & Garden
bengz6westmd
7 years ago
Don't give up. Some chance it may pull thru, but chances aren't good. As mentioned, planting another close by would be a good idea -- if the big tree lives, just remove the little one.
vivititi thanked bengz6westmd
wisconsitom
7 years ago
True enough-Liriodendron is a very fast grower. Still, the appearance of this tree makes me wonder if it's a remnant of a forest that formerly occupied the site. Not at all sure what this would have to do with the convo, except to say that forest clearings often leave zones of unstable trees around their perimeter.
vivititi thanked wisconsitom
bengz6westmd
7 years ago
Below is a tuliptree (behind on right) in only its 12th season -- easily 40'+. And that's in partial shade:
vivititi thanked bengz6westmd
wisconsitom
7 years ago
Wish they were more a part of our local forest. We've tried a few in parks and whatnot, with varying degrees of success. A handful of just up and died overwinter. Just a little too cold in east-central sconnie, I reckon. sure saw a lot of nice ones down in S. Ohio.
vivititi thanked wisconsitom
PRO
Caldwell Home & Garden
7 years ago
wisconstitom, if you like tulip poplars you should see our woods here in NC. you almost can't turn your head without seeing a tulip poplar. They are beautiful when in bloom.
vivititi thanked Caldwell Home & Garden

Is this tulip poplar going to survive?

wisconsitom

Comments (10)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Related Discussions

kentrees12

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Caldwell Home & Garden

bengz6westmd

wisconsitom

bengz6westmd

wisconsitom

Caldwell Home & Garden

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US