How to revive a large pittosporum tree?

aaronkhoocy

Hi, I'm looking for advice to revive large my pittosporum tree in my backyard.

There are two large trunks. One with green leaves and the other without apart from some green leaves at the very top. 

I have done the scratch test on both trees and they look the same. Hopefully this means it's still alive! 

Do i need to deep water it (5-10 mins) every couple of days?

Do i need to add fertilisers? If so would any slow release fertilisers be the way to go?

There are 1 or 2 spots with sticky sap but suppose no major pest issues? 

Any additional advice to revive it would be great! 

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @aaronkhoocy. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about tree care.

It looks like your pittosporum is struggling, but the situation is a bit more serious than normal care issues. When one of the two main trunks is mostly dead while the other is healthy, it usually points to a localised problem affecting that trunk. Often, it is root damage, disease, or some structural issue. Since you’ve done the scratch test and there’s some green under the bark, the tree isn’t completely dead, but the upper branches of that trunk are likely beyond saving.

At this stage, regular watering or fertilising probably won’t revive the dying side. If you want to give it a chance, the best step is to call in an arborist who specialises in tree care, not just removal, so they can assess whether that trunk can be saved or should be removed. Many arborists focus only on cutting trees down, but a tree doctor can evaluate preservation options. Given how stark the difference is between the two trunks, it’s quite possible that the affected side will need to be removed to prevent further stress or safety issues.

The healthy trunk could continue to thrive with proper care: regular deep watering in dry periods, mulching to retain soil moisture, and a balanced slow-release fertiliser suitable for established trees. But for the dying side, professional assessment is really the safest approach.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell