How to save this tree?

[Rookiegardener]

Any tips on how to treat this tree? Seems like it's got some sort of disease.

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Rookiegardener,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

A tree that’s leaning and losing foliage predominantly on one side often has issues with its roots or trunk stability. This can happen if the roots have been damaged, if the soil has shifted, or if there’s been too much water or not enough drainage. When a tree starts to lean, it can also struggle to get nutrients evenly, which causes thinning or dieback on one side.

The hard, sappy deposits you’re seeing on the trunk are a sign the tree is trying to protect itself. This is called gummosis, and it usually happens when a tree is reacting to stress, pests, or disease. Sometimes, insects like borers can cause this, and other times it’s due to fungal infections or damage to the bark.

Since there are several possible causes and the tree already shows signs of decline, it’s best to have it checked by a qualified arborist, ideally someone who specialises in saving or restoring sick trees. They’ll be able to inspect the roots, trunk, and canopy to work out whether the tree can be treated or if it’s becoming unsafe. In the meantime, avoid pruning or adding any stress to the tree until a professional can assess it.

Allow me to tag @Noelle, our resident horticultural guru, to see what she thinks.

Jacob

[Noelle]

Hi @Rookiegardener 

Among the many causes for your tree growing outward at such an angle, and perhaps damaging the roots, is that when it was planted it faced competition for light and so grew towards the sun, or clear space. In my humble opinion, it is probably at a stage now where little can be done to revive it as only one side of the tree seems to be alive and viable, while the rest (towards the fence) looks dead. 

A narrow bed like that isn't an ideal spot for a large tree - it's too close to the boundary fence and there's a lot of competition for available moisture from the other plants nearby. I'd probably look at removing it and planting something more compact and shrub-like to cover the fence.