Cut back your M.E. to where you can find green, living wood. Remove any dead, brown wood. The tree should grow back from this point. M. E. are known for being weak wooded. Leave sucker growth to provide carbohydrates to feed the plant. Remove suckers only when the top is growing well. Keep sucker growth if the tree is dead to the ground and shape a new tree from these. If you need further assistance contact your County Extension Service Agent. Thanks, Jeff Anderson
Would you also recommend cutting back a Mexican Elder? Almost all of the limbs snap without any green in the center, even the 2-3in diameter ones, but new growth is coming up 6in from the ground. I'm debating, whether or not, to cut the tree down at the stump (2ft diameter) and let the new growth take over as the wind has been snapping the old growth left and right. It's a shame, it was a good tree up to the freeze.
Ty so much for posting. I live in ELP and no one knows anything.! TY!
Sibarit1973 9 months ago
Thanks for the info and the videos, Jeff.
bgeek23 10 months ago
Cut back your M.E. to where you can find green, living wood. Remove any dead, brown wood. The tree should grow back from this point. M. E. are known for being weak wooded. Leave sucker growth to provide carbohydrates to feed the plant. Remove suckers only when the top is growing well. Keep sucker growth if the tree is dead to the ground and shape a new tree from these. If you need further assistance contact your County Extension Service Agent. Thanks, Jeff Anderson
lantz2nmsuedu 10 months ago
Would you also recommend cutting back a Mexican Elder? Almost all of the limbs snap without any green in the center, even the 2-3in diameter ones, but new growth is coming up 6in from the ground. I'm debating, whether or not, to cut the tree down at the stump (2ft diameter) and let the new growth take over as the wind has been snapping the old growth left and right. It's a shame, it was a good tree up to the freeze.
bgeek23 10 months ago