Question
Freeze crack on West s
We have a Norwegian Maple that developed a freeze crack on the west side after last winter. It has continued to grow and is now up the main branch of the tree. There is also a new crack on the east side. The leaves started drying up the first of August. Now the first of September, all the leaves are dried up and crispy. We did put some organic dirt around the 2-3 ft parameter of the tree and watered it some more, but it didn't seem to help. It is an isolated tree in the middle of our back yard and was hit badly by hail 2 or 3 times in June and July for the past two years. It was doing so well but now it looks almost dead. The tree is about 5 or 6 years old and about 12 ft high with a trunk diameter of about 4 inches or so. Is there any hope our little tree? Is it dead?
AnswerIf there are no green leaves at this time of the year I would say the tree is dead. You can scrape a small bit of bark off a upper outer branch (near the end of the branch) IF it is green the branch is alive at this point on the branch. If brown the branch is dead at this point on the branch If brown continue down the branch scraping until you find green or reach the main trunk. But from what you describe it sounds like it is dead, Sorry!
