This tree is my MIL’s. It’s apparently been like this since they bought the house in the late 90’s. The vines and rocks and whatnot were done by the previous owners and they just left it, assuming it was fine. But the many posts I’ve seen on here gives me the impression that this is very much NOT fine.
I started pulling all the big rocks and found many smaller marble chip rocks, some of what I assume is concrete, or at least some kind of filler and some sort of weed barrier fabric around the base. There were also TONS of ants and larvae under all the big rocks I pulled.
My MIL has some tree people coming in the next week or so, but I’m worried they are going to advise her to remove the whole thing.
Is there any saving this tree?
by Right-Breakfast5109
4 Comments
That looks dead from the photos but having someone come see the extent of damages is good.
Cut the vines, see how it leafs out, not seeing a whole lot of concern in your text, ants and bugs always live under rocks, has nothing to do with the tree. Weed fabric can cause stress but it’s not going to kill a tree, especially this size. The vines seem to be the main issue and they can be solved in 5 minutes, the big question is how much damage did they do while they were there? If the tree fully leafs out, which I think it will but could be wrong, then you have no concerns, just let the vines die off and fall out on their own.
I’d say the tree branching structure is pretty forked – is that what you were asking?? 😉
Cut the ivy and see how it leafs out.
My grandmother had a grape vine that covered an old apple tree. We called it the grape tree.