Beech tree dead on top?

Rosalinda Eyes

Apologies about the sideways photo. I'm wondering if I could cut off the upper dead part and some how channel a new main stem upwards. This tree hasn't seemed to have got any taller due to this, and if it has, I assume that it's over-all height hasn't risen. Also, most beach trees broaden out on top, but unusually this one has been more like a spire shape since we bought it. I could climb up it and try and identify where the dead part starts, and cut it from there.

By the way, this wasn't intended to be a garden tree when we bought it.

blackbox

That beech tree looks like it's actually an ash tree.

It looks to have ash dieback.

The Continental Op

Thats what I thought but the dead branch is obviously coming from the Purple Beech tree.

looksee

Is there any live growth above where those dead branches are coming out of the side of the tree? Cut it back to just beyond any dead stuff, so you are cutting into live wood. It will probably send up some new shoots from the top of that branch.

The Continental Op

btw OP that looks like die back due to either too little or too much water suspect too little. Its something that beech are known for. Change in water table and you get die back, period of drought and you get die back.

standardg60

Looks to be a dawyck beech from the habit, and agree it was probably too wet or too dry at some stage.

I'd leave the dead leader and instead tie the topmost branch to it so it becomes the new leader. Dawycks are a lot slower growing.