Tree guys - need advice

[Brian]

What do I do with this guy? He's in that nasty area in between the street and sidewalk - 2nd year now that the top is dead. Chop / top the tree to remove the dead branches? Something else? I hear bad things about topping trees, so I wasn't sure - can I do it myself and wing it, or do I need someone smart to handle it?

I can't get rid of it entirely as the HOA will make me put another (expensive) one in. Is there hope for this one?

[newracer]

No sense leaving the dead stuff. Cut it out, give it some fertilizer and a lot of water.

[Grant H.]

No sense leaving the dead stuff. Cut it out, give it some fertilizer and a lot of water.

This.

I don't have an HOA, thank goodness, but we had to cut the heart/top out of the tree in front of my house as it was dead from neglect. The previous owners of this house were a special kind of stupid about lawn care, house maintenance, and house upgrades.

That same year I bought some fertilizer that is targeted at the type of tree from these folks, and then watered the crap out of it. By watered the crap out of it, I mean I turned the hose on low, and let it deep soak for 2-3 hours every couple/3 days.

It has now filled in the top and center of the tree, and it looks good.

[JohnTRourke]

it's dying in the winter, you have to water in the winter here, especially in really hard piss poor places to plant like the hell zone between the sidewalk and the street.

it's never going to do well, plant some bamboo or something. :-)

[Wulf202]

Yup. Be sure to become a Google expert on trimming so it doesn't leave an opening for further damage. Treat it nice. Consider doing tree wrap for the next few winters.

Would the Hoa be ok with you digging a tree ring?

[Brian]

Cool I'll get out my bayonet and butter knife and start chopping this weekend then, and make a point to fertilize and water heavier this year. Glad to hear there's hope. My mother-in-law thinks she's a plant person and told me I should just remove/replace it, but I wanted to believe she was wrong since that didn't make a ton of sense...

[Brian]

Any reason it would be a bad idea to trim out the bad wood now? I know there are some guidelines on when to trim bushes/trees, and it's not usually in the spring, right?

[Robb]

Cut the top out.
Like others have said, fertilize and water it. It'll fill out in a few years.

[newracer]

Any reason it would be a bad idea to trim out the bad wood now? I know there are some guidelines on when to trim bushes/trees, and it's not usually in the spring, right?

Late winter/early spring is best but dead/diseased/damaged wood should be removed right away.

[Erni]

How much of a tree needs to be dead before it won't recover? Like half of one side?