Can a Sorbus tree "come back to life" as it looks like mine has?

vicwatson · 11-05-2011 07:05PM #1

Yes it's a bit strange but when in the garden this evening I noticed my Sorbus Mountain Ash has seemingly come back to life - it's a miracle !

Well the story is is that it was planted in Winter 2007 and came into leaf in May 2008 and May 2009, then in January 2010 we had that severe weather and It looked like it took it's toll on the tree as it didn't come into flower in May 2010 and I figured it was dead as it just looked shrivelled and finished. I left it in situ as was just didn't get round to removing it.

BUT, I'm out there this evening and lo behold there is 2 buds coming out of the lower part of tree, one bud has 3 leaves on it and the other is quite a small bud. I'm flabbergasted, there are signs of life on the branches at all just off the trunk.

Whats going on I wonder? Can trees as such go "dormant" for a year? Is there any course of action I can take to resurrect this tree while there still seems to be some life in it?

Thanks for help in advance

jezko · 11-05-2011 09:57PM

vicwatson wrote: »

Yes it's a bit strange but when in the garden this evening I noticed my Sorbus Mountain Ash has seemingly come back to life - it's a miracle !

Well the story is is that it was planted in Winter 2007 and came into leaf in May 2008 and May 2009, then in January 2010 we had that severe weather and It looked like it took it's toll on the tree as it didn't come into flower in May 2010 and I figured it was dead as it just looked shrivelled and finished. I left it in situ as was just didn't get round to removing it.

BUT, I'm out there this evening and lo behold there is 2 buds coming out of the lower part of tree, one bud has 3 leaves on it and the other is quite a small bud. I'm flabbergasted, there are signs of life on the branches at all just off the trunk.

Whats going on I wonder? Can trees as such go "dormant" for a year? Is there any course of action I can take to resurrect this tree while there still seems to be some life in it?

Thanks for help in advance

how low down are these growths? it could be the root stock starting to grow again as the grafted cultivar is now dead or possible dormant buds on the main stem.. take a photo and we can judge it better

vicwatson · 12-05-2011 05:24PM

They are about 1 foot and 3 foot above the ground.

Will try post photo

Thanks

vicwatson · 09-06-2011 03:10PM

Finally managed to post pics -

Leaf near bottom of tree - http://omg.wthax.org/DSC00889.jpg

Leaves at middle of tree - http://omg.wthax.org/DSC00890_1.jpg

Leaves at middle of tree - http://omg.wthax.org/DSC00891.jpg

Top part of tree showing cumpled leaves - http://omg.wthax.org/DSC00892.jpg

Any advice would be appreciated

looksee · 09-06-2011 03:49PM

They do look like sorbus leaves, and I don't think I can see a graft so I would say there is life there. It looks as though the top of the tree has died back though. Scrape a bit of bark off the tree high up the stem (just with your thumbnail) and see if it is white/green underneath. You need to cut off any dead parts. You may well end up with just a Sorbus bush. Maybe give it this season and see how it goes, but I think you might have to replace it.

jezko · 09-06-2011 04:04PM

vicwatson wrote: »

Finally managed to post pics -

Any advice would be appreciated

You look to have a Sorbus aria 'Whitebeam'

http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ardaghvillagelandscapes.com/Photos/Photos_Trees/whitebeamLeaf.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ardaghvillagelandscapes.com/Trees/Whitebeam.htm&usg=__e67QD0Cc8L4goG8YFENM0ZsF8C0=&h=351&w=298&sz=81&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=fMa_tl_xX2XC5M:&tbnh=140&tbnw=117&ei=O-zwTbS1O42AhQf9-oAo&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsorbus%2Baria%2Bwhitebeam%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D592%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=123&vpy=215&dur=2217&hovh=244&hovw=207&tx=97&ty=152&page=1&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&biw=1280&bih=592

The Photos are showing old buds growing from your standard tree where the side branches were pruned... I would take it your tree still has a root system, however something caused the dieback in the upper part of the tree... Physical damage, also maybe caused by a fungus attack...

Check if the upper Branches are dead, peel small spots on the bark in a few branches to see if any life remains ...if Grey, Black or Reddish brown consider pruning out these branches ... and allow the lower new growths to form your new Tree....

However if its a fungus attack you might be better to destroy the entire tree

Hope this helps

Edit ...Looksee pointed out no obvious grafting point... has it been buried under the stones etc and the Scion wood trying now to regrow roots ??
Could this have caused the die back??

vicwatson · 09-06-2011 07:36PM

Thanks for replies thus far -

They do look like sorbus leaves, and I don't think I can see a graft so I would say there is life there

It is sorbus and there was no grafting.

You may well end up with just a Sorbus bush.

You look to have a Sorbus aria 'Whitebeam'

That's the one alright.

I would take it your tree still has a root system, however something caused the dieback in the upper part of the tree... Physical damage, also maybe caused by a fungus attack...

No physical attack and not sure how to determine a fungal infection.

Check if the upper Branches are dead, peel small spots on the bark in a few branches to see if any life remains ...if Grey, Black or Reddish brown consider pruning out these branches ... and allow the lower new growths to form your new Tree....

Yes they are dead, just checked - they are wrinkled and I broke a small one and it's dry as a bone.:( and they are reddish brown as you describe.

I am guessing the weather had a huge part to play.

How can I rule out a fungal infection?

Thanks a lot

jezko · 09-06-2011 11:26PM

vicwatson wrote: »

How can I rule out a fungal infection?

Thanks a lot

If you have a Fungal Infection, you may see white spots on branches , small mushroom like growths... The Reddish Brown colouring could also be a sign.

Am No Expert, but if you have other Trees you might be better off Destroying this Tree,BY Burning all of it... and NOT plant another one in its place for a few years.... Have you used Chipped Bark around the area at any time for weed control... Has a Tree grown and died in this area before...

I have seen Fruit bushes die like this before (in UK) with a Disease called Fireblight... And recently I heard some Plants were Imported here with it ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_blight

Sorbus I believe is to be from the family Rosaceae.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbus

I hope its not this .... It would Destroy a lot of our native Plants and Spread from one corner to another very quickly...

I don't believe it is this just read the Symptoms, But seen the dead leaves and growing points and it stirred a Memory.

vicwatson · 10-06-2011 05:07PM

If you have a Fungal Infection, you may see white spots on branches , small mushroom like growths... The Reddish Brown colouring could also be a sign

No white spots or mushroom like growths.

Am No Expert, but if you have other Trees you might be better off Destroying this Tree,BY Burning all of it... and NOT plant another one in its place for a few years.... Have you used Chipped Bark around the area at any time for weed control... Has a Tree grown and died in this area before...

Thanks though I'm thinking of perhaps cutting it back to the height of where the tree has sprouted leaves, A sorbus bush as suggested above and keeping a close eye on it !

Appreciate all the research and help !

Can a Sorbus tree "come back to life" as it looks like mine has?

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