Will My Tree Recover?

[Eclipse Now]

Hi all,

 

Our new neighbours cut down some very large (but invasive weedy) trees. These trees shaded the left half of our pine tree, and so the left half never thrived. Will it recover now that it has direct sunlight, or is our tree doomed to always look lopsided and unbalanced? Are there any tricks a tree surgeon might be able to perform with a little surgery and hormones?

 

[Deepwater6]

I don't know enough about mature trees such as yours to know for sure, but my sense tells you won't get much regrowth in the shaded area. I can tell that I had a similar problem with a slighty smaller tree in my yard a few years ago. Although mine was a maple.

 

What I ended up doing was cutting off the 3/4's of the lower limbs. This gave my tree a full look with what was left up top. Since my tree has a fairly pronounced curve, it also took the appearance of a Palm tree. Since your tree has no curve like that I'm not sure that would work for you, however I never cared for the look of dead leafless/needleless branches on any of my trees. It all comes down to your preference.

 

Good luck and when you find out about if you'll get regrowth on the shaded side let me know. I'd be interestd in the answer. :rolleyes:

[Buffy]

If you bring in a landscape architect, the first thing out of her mouth is going to be: "Who put THAT there?"

 

I know that it's sad to kill off a living thing, but it would be merciful, and it'll definitely improve your resale value. You need trees on either side of the house, and a landscape architect would be worth the money.

 

Nice house!

 

I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees, which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please, :phones:

Buffy

[JMJones0424]

I am not an arborist, and ultimately, you need to consult an arborist. I don't know how the industry is in Australia, but if it's anything like it is here in the states, you should make sure that you are dealing with an actual arborist and not just a "tree trimmer". I don't know of any reason why your tree won't recover with time, but I agree with Buffy that the tree is not in an aesthetically ideal location. Do not make the mistake of "lion's-tailing" your tree by removing all the lower limbs. This will severely disrupt the tree's ability to photosynthesize and you'll end up with a sickly tree with an extremely off-balance wind load that will be a hazard to your home.

 

I am more concerned with the planting around the base of the tree. I can't tell from the photo, but frequently home owners bury the root crown with plantings without realizing the stress that this places on a tree. Though the tree looks healthy other than the shaded areas, a buried root crown can invite rot and insects and girdling root growth. Cursory googling led me to this site that shows some examples of what I'm talking about.

[SaxonViolence]

That brings back happy memories.

 

My father Hated Conifers.

 

Whenever we moved somewhere, his first official act was to cut them all down.

 

One house we moved into had about twenty-five in the front yard.

 

The neighbors later told us that when he started in with his Axe, they feared that he might be another Fanatic Hater of All Green Growing Things, like the Nuthammer that lived down the street.

 

But no.

 

He planted Beaucoup Roses; Tulips; Sweet Peas and Elephant Ears...

 

And we had a vegetable garden in back several years...

 

As well as four big Maples and an Elm.

 

He just Hated Evergreens.

 

 

 

Saxon Violence