This tree could have potentially had pretty interesting form from the ascending branches. But the second pic looks just like the other two you posted.

REPLACE

You probably want to check all of the trees planted at your (beautiful) house and check for a visible root flare on all of them.

John

Yeah, looks to be planted too deep and some decay process underway. Not a good long-term prospect. Dr, I'd think about shape, size and growth form of any replacement plant before I'd think about suitability for conditions. Decide whether you want a tall-growing shade tree, a narrow columnar tree of some sort, or a low-growing ornamental tree. Then......once that fundamental decision has been made, go through your choices that would, in addition, handle the soil/moisture/exposure conditions there.

+oM

Both black gum (nyssa sylvatica) and sweet gum are favorites of mine.

Nyssa aquatica (water tupelo I think in common terms) is even a more water loving version of black gum.

To me standing water means plant bald cypress or water tupelo.

Swampy red maple or either nyssa.

If you are on a hill I bet sugar maple, red maple or nyssa sylvatica will be fine.

Oh, and that poor tree in your pic has suffered both wind damage and some kind of trunk defect maybe from being planted too deep. I vote for replacement

Thanks, guys. I'll address a couple of points and then point out what I will likely replace it with.

"Decide whether you want a tall-growing shade tree, a narrow columnar tree of some sort, or a low-growing ornamental tree."

Ideally, a medium to tall shade tree, from the size of a Shantung Maple up to a Red or maybe Sugar Maple, in size. But for this location, needs to be hard wooded/tough, due to somewhat near the house. I don't like the look of narrow/columnar deciduous trees.

"To me standing water means plant bald cypress or water tupelo."

The soil can be saturated a few days in Spring, or other times of year, but last summer when it was so hot the ground cracked open at places in our backyard. There's usually not standing water at this point, but of course 2 or more days soaking rain, downhill & clay soil, and it can be very wet for quite awhile.

I just put in an order of a Blackgum 5 gallon 'Smart Pot' tree from Sooner Farms online. I figure if Blackgum tends to be slow-growing and form a taproot, the Smart Pot approach might be well worthwhile to help it get established quickly & start growing sooner. I doubt Water Tupelo would be easy to find with 'root pruning' technique used (could be wrong about that), and I figure Blackgum will be stronger & more breakage resistant than Red or Sugar Maple (could be wrong about that, too!).

Richard.

Blackgum sounds like it's a good choice for the spot. Another good option would have been Nuttall Oak Quercus texana. They originate from a floodplain environment and deal with periods of flooding frequently. Many of them also have very nice fall coloration, so you might keep that in mind if you have the need for a similar location. They can also have very nice fall color (see below).

Arktrees

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clay soil, down slope on a hill, & in spring & fall rainy weathers can leave our backyard saturated for a few days, while summer can be hot & sunny with temp.s to 100 degrees & it may not rain a few weeks sometimes.

===>>> this is not enough to choose a tree for a swamp .. the lush green of the lawn indicates it is NOT swampy ... otherwise grass would fail ...

as to the tree.. if it were just the top.. it could be pruned.. and live a long useful life ...

but with the bark breaking.. the planting depth.. etc.. get rid of it ...

its the prior owners nightmare.. be done with it.. and create your own .. lol ..

IMHO.. you are way over thinking the water issue ... and as proof .. what are the peeps around you growing???? ... and the hill itself.. means the water is moving .... not standing ... a few days.. or even a week or two ... is not an issue ... again.. IMHO .../

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: this is where swamp trees are needed.. and this aint your yard ...