|
| We have a very mature Sumac tree which is a huge feature of our garden. This year however it has behaved in a very odd manner. New branches have formed and older branches have remained furry. New leaves have formed at the end of every branch but only got to about an inch before wilting. We have not had the usual large red bud start to form either. However the tree has tried to grow elsewhere and this year the lawn has been teaming with suckers which I have mowed religiously and next door just over the fence less than 3ft away it grew a beautiful new tree to 5ft with perfect leaves and bud.
I don't know what to do. We will be heartbroken if the tree is dead and we lost so much of our garden last year due to the snow and conditions that if our Sumac is gone I feel we will have no significant features left. It is alive and maybe next year it will bounce back but if anyone can share a similar story or provide some advice it would be great to have some reassurance and hope! |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| You might want to keep some of those suckers in case it is dying. I don't know what's wrong with it, but it's trying to survive with the suckers. |
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 9:36
| need a pic ... obviously the root system is not dying ... if it grew a 5 foot sucker ... whens the last time it was rejuvenation pruned??? is your grass sprayed with lawn chems??? or did you dump any product on it in spring???? or late last fall ???? might also help to know where you are ... ken |
|
- Posted by gardener365 IL 5/6 (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 9:55
| Going on what sounds like a soil pathogen, I googled for Sumac soil pathogens and Verticillium Wilt came up. There are photos and reading about it, here. Dax |
|
- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Mon, Sep 3, 12 at 12:04
| I consider any one stem of sumac to be very temporary. In nature, it is a thicket-forming plant with numerous stems. Any individual stem is of no great consequence. The colony is what survives. As such, I'd rank as unwise any heroic efforts to save "this tree". In fact, if it were mine, I'd give serious consideration to cutting it down flush with the ground, thereby ensuring multiple root suckers next year. From these, you could select one and continuously cut back all others to try and develop a "sumac tree" again. And again, this could work for a while but ultimately would fail. Such is simply the nature of sumac. +oM |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Trees Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.