Dying Tree? Frost Crack? Disease?

9 years ago

I live in a small development in PA and we have a gigantic tree (not sure what kind - possibly an elm - please tell me if you can identify it) on the corner of our property that hasn't progressed since spring. The leaves appear as if they have not grown since then (very tiny), and some are now (June 24th) turning yellow and falling off. I have included many pictures, one of which shows a large crack on the southwestern side of the tree. The crack extends up the trunk for some distance. There are also a few very small dead limbs (two that I count). My neighbor says that it might be Dutch Elm Disease. I see no signs of bugs of any kind inside of the crack. In March, we had a fence installed with a post footed roughly 4 feet from the base of the trunk. Is it a possibility that some of the roots of the tree were augured through? Would that really cause these symptoms? Will a frost crack create the conditions that I am seeing here or is it indeed Dutch Elm Disease? Is there something that I can do to help? Can I treat the crack with something or promote growth in some way? This tree is the center point of our area. It would be a shame if it died.

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Comments (9)

TreeQuestionGuy123
Original Author
9 years ago
Bigger PIc 1
TreeQuestionGuy123
Original Author
9 years ago
Bigger Pic 2
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TreeQuestionGuy123
Original Author
9 years ago
Bigger Pic 3
saccharum
9 years ago
That is indeed an elm, looks like an American elm. I suspect that you may have a case of elm phloem necrosis ("elm yellows"). I know that this has been a problem in parts of PA in recent years. I suggest contacting an Extension office.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Differentiate Dutch Elm Disease from Elm Phloem Necrosis
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
9 years ago
If it can fall on someone's house have a shorter leash with it than otherwise.

In a big open field I like the look of declining old trees. Over my bedroom no.
hairmetal4ever
9 years ago
He's dead, Jim.

/Star Trek reference
TreeQuestionGuy123
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for the answers. What assistance would an extension office be able to provide? From what I understand, Dutch Elm Disease and Elm Yellows are fatal even with treatment. Are we absolutely positive that we can write this off as not being affected by a frost crack and/or timeliness of the fence construction? What a shame :-( This elm is the center point of the neighborhood.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
the fence had nothing to do with it ..

the pix are awful small .. but i would call those cracks a lightening hit ...

the extension office can provide information .. information is power ... they may even be able to have a state forester look at it ...

you cant make an informed decision.. until you get the information ...

you can also get such by hiring an ASA certified arborist to come and look at it.. this is not a monkey with a chainsaw type person

ken
saccharum
9 years ago
Extension may be able to help with a more definitive diagnosis, as well as information about how they want people to dispose of diseased elms in your area. It's hard to be sure from the pictures whether the crack is from a lightning strike, or just bark sloughing off because the phloem beneath it has died. But from what I can see in the pictures, it looks to me like the tree is effectively dead.