Stag horn tree - Rhus typhina could it be dead?

fletty

We moved into our present house 7 years ago and there are 2 of these well established trees in the garden both about 10 ft high.

I'm not much of a gardner but really enjoyed the trees as they turn a lovely red colour in the Autumn.

However this year the biggest of the 2 trees has not a single leaf on and no sign of buds and the other isn't as leafy as normal.

Could this be the end of them or could it have something to do with the horrid winter we had?

Would pruneing them help and give it a kind of shock? the smaller one is still sending out smaller plants but the bigger one (deadish one) isn't.

would hate to lose them and the birds love the seeds.:(

tanith

I'd say the big one is dead if its got no leaves buds or shoots... maybe they are just old and worn out...its a shame when you lose a well loved tree..

Mojisola

It's not an easy plant to kill - some people try for years and still have suckers coming up through the lawn and the drive!

If there's no sign of life by now, then the plant has died. I'm sure there will be a strong sucker coming from the other tree which you could transplant in the autumn. It will grow quickly and replace your lost tree.

Suzy_M

It's less likely to be the 'horrid' winter we've just had as the preceding ones. Britain has had a series of winter droughts which has badly effected some established trees. (In our case we have lost about half the mature fruit trees and half the ornamentals.)

Deevee_2

I also have an established Rhus Typhina that has bloomed and flowered without any problems for the last 15 years. This year the large fluffy maroon horn bud things came out and then the tree seemed to stop. There have been no leaves. We did have some late frosts and I am hoping that next year it will be recovered as I don't want to lose such a large and established tree.