3 years ago we moved into a 30 year old home with a beautiful flowering crab apple tree. It had always bloomed beautifully until now. Last summer my mother in law cut back , I believe the term is suckers. After that, the tree began to lose leaves on 1/2 of the tree way before fall. (I don't know if the pruning was a facor to the premature falling leaves or not. ) However, this spring the tree is only budding on one half of the tree. The other half has some very brittle branches and no buds at all. Literally, half of the tree seems to be dying, or may eaven be dead. What has happened to my beautiful tree and can the tree be saved? Thanks in advance for all advice!

Leah

I don't think pruning of the suckers (at the bottom I guess) would have done that damage to your tree. Crab apple trees are so susceptible to environmental issues. I don't think there is much you can do except watch it and try to keep the other half going.

Tick