I have a question regarding a small oak tree (bur oak I think) that is behaving badly. The tree is about 4 ft. tall and about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter at ground level. The previous owners had the tree on the side of the house and I transplanted it in mid February to the front of the house where it will have room to grow. I realize I transplanted it later than I should have.

The problem is that none of the existing branches have leafed out at all and several new sucker branches have started from right near the base of the tree up to about 6 inches up. Apparently the tree is in stress, but I don't know what to do about it. Should I prune off all of the new shoots and hope the existing branches leaf out? Should I give up on it and cut it down and plant something else in the fall? Any suggestions?

By Daivd on Monday, April 30, 2001 - 08:54 am:

Hello Brad, I would say that your tree is no only stressed but in Shock...For that large a caliper tree,you would have had a root ball as large as 1-1 1/2 foot around. So test the tree's bark if it is still green (dark juicy green)then you still have a shot at keeping it the way it looks now. If not prune out the dead and let the new branches come up and form a new tree. You should treat the ground around the tree with "Rabbit Hill Farms Sick Tree Treatment" it will give your tree a jump start.
If you can get the tree through this coming Summer then I would keep the tree and not plant a new one. You will be surprised how quick it will grow. Good Luck..