Assistance with an unidentified unwell tree in Brisbane please

JackiOT

Hi everyone

I am new to this forum and am posting on the suggestion of Eric. I am hopeful someone might be able to share some wisdom or ideas.

We have an unwell looking tree in our backyard. Apparently it is a rare type of tree (according to the neighbours who said the original owner sourced it through the botanical gardens??) The tree was originally on the property when we bought it and we have done major building and landscaping work (including changing the level of the yard with fill and removing other trees) about a year ago - aiming to keep the tree, but I am not sure we will be successful.

I would be very grateful to hear any ideas about what type of tree it is, and also how to get it healthy again (if we can!)

Thanks so much!

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Eric Frei

Without closer pics we'd be guessing what it is.

Could be a weeping willow (Salix babylonica) etc

Could be a weeping cypress, heck could even be a swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum)

Anyway, the brown parts I assume are dying or dead parts.

Quick run down ....

• The finer absorbing roots of trees are very close to the surface and tree roots in general dominate the top 30cm of soil profile
• Tree roots need air, water and nutrients to live
• Tree roots spread a lot further than the canopy, especially the finer absorbing roots
• Grade changes (soil increases) have an adverse effect upon tree roots, especially if compacted
• AS4970 has a rule for development sites that states an area of 12X the DBH as a radius from the centre of the trunk should be protected and not interfered with to ensure the tree is not adversely affected by the development. That means if the tree is say 0.3m DBH you need to provide a radius of 3.6m from the centre of the trunk as a minimum protected zone. Measure the trunk dia at breast height and tell us what you have.
• The tree protection zone should be mulched, you have competing ground cover

To remedy the situation would mean, reversing some of the things above and quickly trying to kick start the root growing process.

Fertilizers are not the answer but soil conditioners applied to the restored grade level are, soil conditioners include things like Seasol and blood and bone. Keeping it moist but not wet.

If it was compacted it should be decompacted, I do compaction tests to ascertain the level of compaction, remember you should be testing the original grade.

The dead parts should be pruned off.

If the root loss suffered so far is too high the tree may continue to decline in part or whole. As the tree declines expect the bug fest to start, it's natures way. Often secondary pathogens are seen as the cause of tree demise, however often it's the simple things that are overlooked. Trees need roots.

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Sean Freeman

It does look a lot like swamp cypress, oddly enough there are a few of them planted in the Logan area, very attractive they can be too, although they do have a tendancy to produce root suckers quite freely.

Eric's advice is good, better pictures would perhaps get you a more specific range of suggestions.

(There are cankers that can affect a range of cypress species but swamp cypress if that's what it is, are thought to be relatively resistant).

JackiOT

Thank you very much for your replies Ekka and Sean.

I will try to take some more photos today and post them to see if it helps.

Basically I am kicking myself that we didn't know during the building and planning process that landscapers are not arborists or horticulturalists

I was keen to keep the tree but was given (by the landscapers) the option of either cutting it down and putting in a poinciana or attempting (with no guarantees) to keep the tree but building a sort of timber structure around the base (at the original height) and then extending it up. They then needed to make it child safe, so covered over at the top. This probably makes no sense at all, so I will take a picture today.

This would of course mean that there is very limited light getting in. It is also not 12 x in size. Oh dear - it is not sounding very hopeful for the tree

I will take and post some more pictures of the situation for the tree and also some up closer pics.

Thanks again

JackiOT

Ok have taken some pictures (which I will attempt to embed ) They are just taken with my phone so if that is not helpful - let me know and I will dig out a proper camera and have a go.

Ok - first the wooden structure devised by the landscapers - it goes down about a metre to the original yard level and has drainage etc from it. There is a small gap maybe 20cm between it and the ground. It is about 2m x 2m in size.








So as you can see - not much light for the poor roots. Hmmm any suggestions appreciated.

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JackiOT

And some more pictures of the tree itself. I think we will be trying to get a skilled arborist to come out and see what can be done - or if it is too far gone and needs to come out

I apologise in advance if there are too many pictures for the one post - I wasn't sure.

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Eric Frei

I think you could enter that into the Landscaping Darwin Awards.

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JackiOT

Well as far as landscapers go, they were pretty good pavers

I guess we will be looking into a new feature tree.

Thanks so much for having a look at the pictures and giving an opinion - we have had trouble getting anyone to do so!
The forum is a great resource!

kieren

Looks like botanicus terminus

Treeson

Looks like it could possibly be a Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) NZ native.
Are the leaves spikey to touch and if you look end on to them do they form a sort of star pattern?
Just from the look of the bark and the stems. A close up of the leaves would be fantastic.

phill ellison

that was what i was thinking too