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how to save my tree

sian msian m Posts: 4
in Problem solving

Hi all. Can anyone help me? We moved into our home back about two years ago and noticed some of the large trees already in our garden had dead patchs on them. We have no idea if this tree can be saved or if it needs to be chopped down. We would like to save them if we can because they provide privacy. I have posted a picture of the tree that looks the worst

image

 

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Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,524

    Have a good look at your plants and see if they are affected in this way.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=733

    Or maybe like this

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=132

     

     

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • sian msian m Posts: 4
    Thanks for your help. All the plants we have are growing healthy and fine, it's just the large trees already there before we moved in. They all look similar to the picture
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,524

    There are two different problems - one in each photo. Do your trees look more like photo one or photo two, or both?

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,332

    Maybe someone before has hacked them back, they never recover from that, they were probably overhanging. They have been cut right back to the trunk.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • sian msian m Posts: 4
    They not like either of them. There is no green growing on the brown section at all, it's just complete bare branches. Only on that one section though, the rest of the tree is green and healthy looking
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Fir trees will never grow back from bare wood so I would have the affected ones removed.  If you want to replace them with new young trees, you will have to have the roots removed and improve the soil (eg add a few barrows of well-rotted manure) as it will now be in very poor condition because fir trees take all of the nutrients out.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    It does look as though they have been chopped back to old wood. The brown bits you are seeing is what was the inside of the tree and that is quite normal to find. As someone has already said it is well nigh impossible for this to now sprout green again to cover the brown.
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,964

    I had a similar problem on a smaller scale where a shrub next to a conifer died and left a big brown patch of dead wood on the conifer that would not grow back.
    I cut all the old wood out, as it wont re-grow and I bought a small similar-looking conifer and planted it about 12" from the existing conifer.
    As to whether you'll get away with it on a much bigger scale  - no idea, but may be worth a go considering the alternative. You'd have to keep it well watered if you try.

    good luck

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • sian msian m Posts: 4

    hi all, thanks for your replys. It makes sense that they have been cut back as two of the trees are only like it on the side facing the road but this one is like it and its facing the inside of the garden, any ideas?

    image

     

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    looks like the previous owners were a bit over enthusiastic in their pruning regime.

    once conifers show their old, dead wood they never regrow. it might be time for fell, chip and replace? 

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