Is my tree dying?

6 years ago

Last fall, we planted a Japanese Snowbell. Within a few weeks, we began a very, very long drought and were on water restriction and could not risk the heavy fine for overwatering. We did the best we could in the situation. One branch died last fall but the rest were living. When spring began this year, the bark around the base cracked and fell off. The tree has produced (sort of sparsely) leaves and snowbell flowers even after the bark fell off. A few more areas around the tree have started peeling. I have scratched back with my nail a few little area here and there and there is green under the bark on the branches that are producing leaves. Even with it making progress, I am concerned about the fate of the tree. I am assuming this is not normal. Is there anything I can do at this point?

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Comments (5)

snowbanana
6 years ago
I don't look good, sorry. Keep it watered and hope for the best, give it the growing season maybe and check it next spring. If it gets worse at all I'd remove it.

It also looks to be planted too deep as well, *if I had a dime for every time that is said on GW trees.
kentrees12
6 years ago
If the back side of the trunk looks the same as the side facing the camera the tree is dead, at least the above ground part. If the back side has sound bark, it may still survive, but it will never look good. You'll know for sure when hot weather hits, the top may be living on sap that is still in the top. It may sprout from the roots.

I imagine that was a VERY pricey tree. If I was faced with a no water situation, I would have been saving any household water I could get my hands on and putting it on that tree. I REALLY don't mean to sound harsh...
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To all tree peeps-- I'm about to not just speak for myself, but for others with the same predicament: Sometimes, anxiety/frustration/always being in a hurry easily comes accross as rudeness. I'm guilty of this, it's a shortcoming, I suppose. I try to stand up always for the little man. I'm not into bullies/false prophets/people who use their position to get others to "obey". People that know me and who I speak with in person regularly, know that I have a very good heart; they know I have integrity, and can be trusted with their life. I have a very dry sense of humor, also, that works very well in person. People that don't know me, for example friends of friends on facebook, are sometimes, initially, taken aback, by a "just the facts, ma'am" attitude, combined with an ironic/sardonic/devil-may-care humor. (This might be due to being a scientist/geek, or I got it from my beloved German mother, for whom I admire a great deal. She escaped East Germany in the early sixties, with my brother, and had to stand up to the Stazi when caught on the way out-- I love you, Mom). I try to be humorous to allay a tendency in the written form to be too blunt. Forgiveness is divine, and I am much less sensitive to people being blunt with me, in person or in writing, because I simply am not into "hypocrisy". So, sometimes you got to give people a break, particularly when they're not full of it/sloppy with the facts or passionate/simply upset and in need of help. To the OP- Yes, the tree has disease/pest problems. The challenging part is to find out the cause. Disease is almost always caused by some environmental factor, so call an ISA-certified arborist and be done with it. M P.S.- Thankyou all for letting me state my "strong opinion". You gotta know that us full-blooded Krauts simply can't help ourselves, sometimes. Understanding and keeping a loving attitude even with those who we may perceive as our "enemies", goes a long way towards serenity in life. That's what I believe, anyways.
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Just a guess. When you had the retaining wall installed a couple of years ago they removed a lot of the main roots on that tree. It often takes trees several years to die. The other possibility is when the grass gets weedeatered? the tree gets hit with the string and the tree was girdled. I'd agree with nurseryman and say either way the tree is doomed.
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First, 'Super Thrive' is NOT a liquid fertilizer. It has none of the typical ingredients (NPK) one would find in a real fertilizer and is at best a liquid supplement but of very dubious need and value. Most professional horticulturists consider it nothing more than snake oil :-) Read THIS to gain some understanding of what this product is and how it works, if at all. Any application of this stuff is in my opinion a waste of money and effort. Other than watering as may be necessary, there is nothing you can or should do for this tree right now. It will either make it or not. Missing the watering necessary to help establish a newly planted tree (and January certainly qualifies - even last January!) can have long term repercussions, which you may be seeing here. It's always a risk to think that natural rainfall will suffice when often it does not. OTOH, plants are a lot more adaptable to stressed conditions than we expect, so it could be just fine. Regardless, you will not know for sure until it comes time for the tree to leaf out next spring.
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Thank you all for your reply and advise. I don't think I would remove it since it give shade to the pool and it one of the tallest trees in my neighborhood. I do have palm tree, like 12 feet away, that died last March, it lost all the leaves and just died. I don't know what happened, I was overseas, and dis come back until August. think it got strock by lightning, because I could see a line on the side. It was very old since it is super tall. I haven't removed it, probably should, right now it's just a home for 8 wood peckers. (Pictures when it died) I think my tree it's an evergreen... I don't know if it is a Simarouba glauca as suggested, since I haven't seen any flowers or fruits. I will definitely post on identify my tree with extra pictures and update Thanks!
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Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
6 years ago
It may not die but it certainly looks to be heading in that direction. That said, it will never fully recover with that much dead bark on the trunk. The exposed wood will probably start rotting at the tree's base before the tree is able (if ever) to encapsulate the wound. Having seen this before, the tree has a much increased risk of breaking off at the base in the future (5-15 years from now). I'd replace it before you have too much more time invested in it.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
i would expect a warranty.. with that big of a transplant.. talk with your seller ... i would demand a replacement ..

always add where you are ... hard to believe.. of severe drought in fall with cooling weather or what not ... but where are you ...

dead trees can leaf out on stored energy .. and then die when the heat of summer hits... i also dont hold out much hope .. and even if it does struggle thru.. by the time you remove all the dead stuff.. there wont be much left ...

let us know what the seller says ...

ken
User
Original Author
6 years ago
To answer a few comments and add specifics:

I am not sure if it is too deep. I know the root ball was left exposed at the top with a shallow trench dug around it when planted. We added the mulch later.

The tree was only $100 or so. Not a big deal and wasn't worth the huge water use fine that would cost way more than that to replace it. We are financially able to replace the tree without it being a burden. I was just curious if I can do anything to help the tree at this point. I would prefer no tree in my yard but it is required by our HOA.

The bark is not peeling on the other side of the trunk.

I have not considered seeking a replacement bc I was given specific instructions on how to care for the tree and did not follow those directions due to the drought. This is not the sellers fault. I take full responsibility and am not interested in pursuing that option. Like I said, the cost of the tree is not a big deal to us. Just looking for advice on what I could be doing to help care for the tree at this point.

I live in Alabama. The drought lasted 61 days and occurred last fall from Sept to Nov (longest on record). We usually get plenty of rain here and the summers get very hot. Cool weather doesn't begin until late November (which in this case is around the time the drought ended)

Thank you for all the comments so far!

Is my tree dying?

Comments (5)

snowbanana

kentrees12

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Is my tree dying?

Comments (5)

snowbanana

kentrees12

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Smivies (Ontario - 5b)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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