Is my Tree Dying -- How do i save it?

Question

As seen in the pictures below i have a small tree "attempting" to live and grow on my front lawn.

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/quantass/tree/

The problem is this tree has been very slow to mature and during the summer there arent very many leaves that this tree carries nor do they have a lushous green look to them (the color more resembles an autumn fall period). I strongly suspect the reason for this is that this tree is damaged at the main tree trunk area (please see the pictures).

Can someone tell me, is there a way to save my tree (when you look at these pictures) and have it grow properly? Winter is approaching again and i figure this little tike won't last another winter in this state.

Thanks

Answer 1

I fear for your little tree..... that's a horrible injury in the pic called tree1..... and from what I see of the soil level in that picture, it's planted too deeply, as well..... it's therefore suffering from a failure to thrive... or, as my arborist called it, a long slow and miserable death..... why it looks too deep?... because where the roots begin to move out and away from the main trunk of a tree is a spot called the 'root flare'.... it should show above ground just slightly.... enuff that you can tell which direction the main roots take off in...... if you see nothing like that at the base of the tree, then it's too deep....and it will die...eventually.... even without that awful chunk taken out of it.... the tree is trying to heal itself, but there's a good nearly half of the tree that is not going to get any sustenance, since the flow of food and water is interrupted at the injury site.... there's nothing that will hasten the healing and since the poor thing is stressed anyway from being planted too deep, if that isn't changed, I just don't see it surviving for long.... you might TRY to move soil away from the root flare (which would leave the tree in a 'below the surface' bowl/hole and prob drown it if you got a lot of rain).... or dig it up and raise it to above the soil level....(which would be a terrible shock to it at this point)... personally, I'd give it a decent burial and give the hole to a new one that got planted with the root flare in mind, this time..... sorry I cannot be more positive.....

Answer 2

Hey,
I grow alot of trees, shrubs, & roses. Your tree looks like it's been damaged at that spot looking about 2' from the ground.
I would spray that area with some pestiside to try and kill any bugs that may be in there. Then check with a co-op and ask about wound dressing for a damaged tree. Don't know how much time before winter, or your area. I would put some epsoms salt and some mircle grow to start and water good. Wait a while and see what it does. When winter approachs, the sap should go to the roots, then if you want it could be transplanted, Don't know if a pot or hot house is an option, that's what I'd try. You need the name of the tree and look it up on google for the care and season's growing tips.

Answer 3

The rule in tree evaluation used by arborists is if the trunk is damaged 50%, the tree is a 100% loss. If the experts say this, what do you think the tree will be like 10 years from now?? (not much bigger and probably less healthy than it is now...or dead) Woody plants are a factory run on "battery" power......let me explain: So many tree functions occur when the tree has no leaves, e.g. root initiation and growth. So to prosper your tree must be able to operate at 100% (or nearly so) in order to make enough "power" to carry it thru the year. You've got a factory with a severely limiting water and nutrient supply line which will limit power production. Plus the major wound is a huge energy drain in warding off infection 365 days a year. (trees don't heal, they erect internal chemical barriers that must be maintained for the life of the tree) The tree might be able to make enough power to keep the internal defense system operating around that wound, but will have to sacrifice other systems....like growth, flower, other wound or insect defense. Cut your losses and remove this tree, plant a new one. This will never be a healthy tree. Boo-boos happen....accept it and move on.

Answer 4

use the force