Will this work?

10 years ago

This tree was planted two years ago and has never been very happy. Now there are dead branches on top, the bark of the trunk is splitting and not looking good (is that fungus on trunk?). However, there are shoots that have grown 2 feet in just a year and seem very happy. Could I cut the large tree down, but leave one of the shoots to grow since they seem happy and healthy? Would that work?

Comments (6)

treenutt
10 years ago
how much soil above the rootball?
maggie2
Original Author
10 years ago
At the very top, near the trunk, about 2-3 inches.
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treenutt
10 years ago
IMO,if its the only place you have to plant a tree, I would replace the tree, there to much that could happen with what you got going on. It is unhealthy looking, why take the chance.
Make sure the top of the rootball is even to the ground during planting (I like to see the flare of the root ball exposed after planting) and keep soil moist. and if mulching only a light sprinkle of mulch around the trunk then about 3" around the root zone.
goodluck and keep us informed
maggie2
Original Author
10 years ago
Unfortunately, I don't have the option to replace the tree - either it stays as is and dies or I try to do something with the shoots coming up. If I were to cut the three down and take a chance on the shoots, do I need to do anything to the top of the tree stump? Like seal it or any such thing?
lucky_p
10 years ago
Maggie,
It will work just fine.
Saw the same thing with a maple of some sort, planted in the yard at a co-worker's new home 10+ years ago. I sawed the original trunk off at ground level, and within 2-3 years, she had a nice, well-shaped tree as big or bigger than the original B&B specimen. I pass by it from time to time, and it looks great.
No need to put anything on the stump; just cut it off as close to level with the ground as possible, and take care not to damage whichever new shoot you decide to keep.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
what you have.. will be a large-ish root mass.. for a very small tree ...

it should go bonkers.. if you keep it properly watered...

and perhaps excavate the additional soil off the top ...

do you know what a root flare is.. and is at proper depth????

you might have better luck.. cutting the tree above off.. at some height.. say a foot or two ... and insuring it never sprouts up there ..

and then.. when your babe is a bit older .. then going in and cutting it way down ...

if you could do it now.. it would be better.. but you dont want to destroy the babe .. in the process ...

regardless. two cuts to take it all down.. get rid of the big part.. easily .. then go down in there.. and do your surgery ....

ken