Ml_work

I got a 5 yr old Korean hornbeam that was dormant when I purchased it. As it has bloomed I notice there are a few limbs that look dead and nothing has come from them, no sign of buds at all. I have seen other trees with what appeared to be dead limbs with new growth at some point. My tree has a good many leaves and some buds continue to appear, but not on the limbs I am speaking of. I would think something should have shown on the limbs by now. Should I just wait and see if something comes out later? Or are these dead looking limbs, "dead weight"? and need to go.

Thanks,
ML

Dav4

No problem with waiting a bit more before cutting away the branches, just to be sure. I don't have a Korean hornbeam, but I have heard they are notorious for periodically dropping branches.

Dave

Ml_work

Thanks Dave, I will hold back with the cutting.
Have A Great Day!
ML

centaura

I agree with the 'wait and see' - it never hurts to wait before cutting since you can't glue it back on. Also look very closely at the texture of the branches that you suspect to be dead. Compare them with the texture of the branches that you know are alive. Is there a significant color difference? Do the 'dead' branches look shriveled up? Its not a 100% accurate test, it doesn't work on some species, but if the bark is smooth you can see the fact that the cambium layer has withered in the fact that the outer bark is no longer smooth. It looks shriveled up, like a raisin, only on a smaller scale.

-Centaura

Ml_work

Thanks, I will look closer. I had cut one small branch on the end before I posted my question. It was dead, but then I remembered seeing growth on worse looking limbs, so I ask.
Thanks
ML

bonsaidad

I planted two European Hornbeam's, bare rooted back last winter.
One leafed out profusely, but the other one had plenty of buds on, but refused to show any signs of life.
Due to bad weather this summer, i did not bother to dig it back up, and now i am glad i did not as its eventualy growing from the lower extremities of the trunk.
The main thing is, be patient, this tree is there for a few years and may very well back bud where you do not expect it to.


Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

Ml_work

Thanks for the info Paul. I did end up cutting a couple of small limbs as it became clear they were really dead. So far the tree has made it fine, matter fact all have made it through the hot 102 summer. I did have to move my Elm off the deck to some shade. It was not dieing but continued to have many yellow leaves, while at the same time new growth. It is much happier in the shade, but will move back to deck now that we are getting a brake in the heat.
ML