Heres is another picture

second tree

Lawn mower accident? Also, those trees seem to be planted too deep, I can't see any root flare

Lawn mower or weedeater damage comes to mind ; it really does look like it has been planted too deeply.

The tree is about 15ft tall and was planted 2.5 years ago.

==>>> damaged.. most likely when field dug .. and only started showing long after the insult of such ...

its not uncommon.. for the damage to show.. long after the insult ...

looks like it was telephone poled also ... planted too deep ..... can you root around in there.. and find out where the trunk/root interface is ??? if its underground.. that isnt good ....

i am thinking it is going to be a long hard road for it to heal ....

any canopy loss???? ... does it seem barely bigger than when it was planted two seasons ago ...

think about it this way ... 90% of its roots were cut off .... IF field dug ... so you lost 90% of its water moving capacity ... and now you have lost about 50% of its trunks ability to move water up the tree ... its suffering ...

will it live or die.. i dont know ....

ken

ps: i think its much worse than weedwhip damage ... more like back up and hit it with the bumper damage ... regardless ... i would clear the grass in at least a 3 foot circle.. and add a proper layer of mulch ... see link regarding mulching and PROPER watering

Here is a link that might be useful: link

The tree is planted too deeply. It's coming out of the ground like a telephone pole. No root flare is evident. The tree is starving for oxygen.