Does anyone know what kind of tree this is?

[turbo]

Hello all, We've just recently bought a house in Calgary. There's a weird looking tree at our front yard as shown in the picture.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

Does anyone know what kind of tree it is? It looked healthy when we moved in in August. Now it looks like it's dying and the leaves turned black. Is this normal? Did the leaves turn black due to the colder weather or some kind of disease? Also it looks like the main branch of this tree was cut by the previous owner- we have no idea why they did that?

[Angelamc]

Green or Black Ash?

[4X4]

My arbourist friend says lilac. Looking out my window at my lilac, I agree with him.

[Gozer]

Deciduous.

[afc wimbledon]

Doesn't look at all happy.

[turbo]

We aren't sure if we should just rip out the plant. The bush besides it with red leaves looks fine.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by turbo

We aren't sure if we should just rip out the plant. The bush besides it with red leaves looks fine.

If your not sure I'd let it have a cycle, see what it looks like in flower and whether you like it then, most trees and shrubs look like crap in the fall and winter.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by turbo

We aren't sure if we should just rip out the plant. The bush besides it with red leaves looks fine.

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

If your not sure I'd let it have a cycle, see what it looks like in flower and whether you like it then, most trees and shrubs look like crap in the fall and winter.

Unless you are planning to plant something that you like or prefer, now or in the spring to replace it, then Id leave it like AFC said and see it next summer and see if its healthy and whether you like it. It looks like it had some sort of damage or issues that caused it to be pruned but it could have some established roots and still grow nicely. Also consider if you are happy with the spot it is in.

[turbo]

Thanks guys. I think we'll just wait and see what it looks like next summer

[ken0042]

I also think it is an ash, but a very sick one. I'd even suspect that the previous owners cut away the dead parts before selling.

An example of 3 of these trees with the same issue:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.91508...7i13312!8i6656

When I bought the ash for my last house they sold me one that wasn't affected by the disease. (Patmore Ash) Since then I found that the Patmore Ash seems to be more expensive than the other varieties.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I also think it is an ash, but a very sick one. I'd even suspect that the previous owners cut away the dead parts before selling

A lot of trees in my neighbourhood are chopped up like that from Snowmageddon 2014.

[Stormageddon]

Looks just like the lilacs at my house. Mine are all dying a slow death but I don't feel like ripping out 400ft of bushes. The few that do still produce decent flowers look nice though.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Stormageddon

Looks just like the lilacs at my house. Mine are all dying a slow death but I don't feel like ripping out 400ft of bushes. The few that do still produce decent flowers look nice though.

You can cut lilacs back to a foot above the ground and they will reshoot out and become a nice bush again.

One of the hardiest shrubs around.

[Stormageddon]

Originally Posted by redforever

You can cut lilacs back to a foot above the ground and they will reshoot out and become a nice bush again.

One of the hardiest shrubs around.

Yes for sure, just way too much bush to deal with when I plan on building and moving next year somewhere else.