Question

dying cottonwood   QUESTION: Hi again! Casper Wy here, I've uploaded a picture of our poor tree this time. It's not that leaves grow but fall off, this is just simply all the leaves it has grown this summer. Every year its been less and less. Does the picture help at all? If we cut all the dead off will it help? Thank you!

ANSWER: Thanks for the picture. The tree has numerous cankers caused by a stem disease and I am sorry it looks like there is no way to save the tree. Cutting the dead off will prolong the tree for a very short time but the cankers have gotten too far a jump on the tree. I would recommend that the tree be replaced. Sorry.

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Another tree in Casper   QUESTION: Hi again! Thank you for your help with the cottonwood! Now I'm sad. So, this is another tree we have, I'd love to know what kind it is. It's kind of a black tree with compound, alternating leaves that have long and short teeth edges. Did I say that right? It's doing the same thing! Less leaves every year.Still much alive, tho, eh? Can we save this one? Need a closer picture? Thank you, I really do appreciate your help, sir!

Answer
From this distance I can not tell what species of tree this is. But since there is a fair amount of foliage left I would say this tree is worth trying to save. I would go ahead and cut the dead branches back to live foliage and then fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. IF you apply the fertilizer just before a rain storm you will not need to water it in. This should increase the overall health of the tree especially the root system.--you will not see much difference this year but next spring there should be more dense foliage.