I have a Persian ironwood that has been in my front yard for 6 years doing really well, yet with this past summer that flipped into winter in the Okanagan (bypassing fall completely) it did not lose it’s leaves. I was a bit worried when spring came and it still had all the leaves, yet waited patiently for them to drop. Here it is the first day of summer — there have been a couple of branches that lost their leaves and had new growth, yet those leaves are now dying and around the base of the tree the suckers are rampant. I am thinking this tree needs to come out, yet would like some advice. No arborists in the Okanagan will even return my calls to have them come out and look. I am hoping someone here has the knowledge. I am going to try to attach a picture of what state it is in right now. Thank you.
It doesn't look well at all. I suspect it may have collar rot from excess soil around the base or from being planted too deep. Given its young"ish" age, I'd be inclined to start again with a new tree.
I do not believe it is planted too deep, as there are roots visible near the base at the surface, and it is planted in a well so the soil is not piled up around the base, although i do have a light layer of bark mulch at the base.
In that case, cut off the dead top, and let the root sprouts develop into a new plant. They look healthy and vigorous. When cutting, take care not to damage the new stems!
What does "planted in a well" mean, in this context? In other words, what are the details of this aspect? (Otherwise, an implication of the weather circumstances you described is that the top was caught unprepared for the cold).
Planted in a well to me means the soil around the base of the tree is higher the further away from the base it is, so the low point is at the base of the trunk. From the research i have done so far, I do believe the tree was unprepared for cold therefore did not produce the chemical needed to let go of the leaves — there are many trees in this region that also did not lose there leaves until May and some that also appear to have the same problem, but most have come back. I just wonder if it is in shock and will eventually recover or not? I appreciate your input.
The crown of a tree sitting in a depression is the opposite of what is normally natural or desirable. But I think the recent problem there was the weather. And it is unlikely to be the last time the climate there proves too much for it - same as anywhere else, if it happened once it's going to happen again. With - despite listings of the species as drought tolerant and the proximity of deserts to its native area - its natural adaptation actually being to rainy deciduous woodlands.
