How can I help top of my tree?

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Zedekias

ArboristSite Lurker
Joined
Jun 9, 2018
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Location
Castle Rock, CO
I moved into a new house this last winter and this tree's leaves just stopped growing at the top this spring. I thought it might have been from a hailstorm but that was over a month ago and hasn't recovered still.

I've been watering it a lot the past few days and used an organic fertilizer.

Any suggestions? Thanks
 

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Your problem is most likely in the roots. A picture of the trunk where it contacts the soil would be helpful.

I'm assuming I need to at the very least dig out the mulch in the ring? I can't easily remove the whole thing because my HOA are a bunch of nazis.
 

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Well I cut back the tulips and took out the mulch. There really wasn't very much though. There's soil right up against the trunk. Is that OK or do I need to pull it back some so the tree can get a little more o2?
 
It looks like it was originally planted to deep or is over mulched. Good chance of a girdling root. Mulch should not be against the trunk. Pull it away then dig down gently until you find the root flair.
 
Well I dug down as gently as I could. And I definitely found some girdling by some smaller roots that I cut off. I found a few that were about the size of a cell phone charger cord that seemed to be strangulating quite a bit.

But now it seems like some of these other bigger roots still might be girdling? I wanted to see what you thought before I did anything dumb.
 

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This picture is from last fall. Does it make any difference that this just happened this season?
 

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The trunk is girdled. You can try to cut it out but the prognosis is not good. That' being said it worth a try if you would like to keep the tree. Get a good set od chisels and make a clean cut. Google pruning girdling root.
 
I'm really **** out of luck? No saving this tree?
You can try by chiseling the girding roots away but the too deep problem will still be there. If you want to try, "go for it" but my recommendation would be study correct planting methods and plant its replacement too because; even if you make it survive, it will likely be out performed by a new plant planted correctly.
 
You can try by chiseling the girding roots away but the too deep problem will still be there. If you want to try, "go for it" but my recommendation would be study correct planting methods and plant its replacement too because; even if you make it survive, it will likely be out performed by a new plant planted correctly.

Well I'm going for it for now. It's definitely not the best time to plant anything right now anyway.

Hopefully I can get it to last a bit longer and I can replant something new this fall or next spring.

Thanks guys
 
Well I'm going for it for now. It's definitely not the best time to plant anything right now anyway.

Hopefully I can get it to last a bit longer and I can replant something new this fall or next spring.

Thanks guys
At least your armed with info, good luck!
I like planting in the fall transition when its 50 to 60s for the highs !
 

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