gleditisia tree

[fishing81]

next door have a lovely tree called gleditisia 'sunburst' but this year it looks as if it has died,there is a small amount of green foilage growing just as the branches start but I would say there is the majority has died,this isn't the only one we have seen like it this year will it recover and would it be better to prune it or leave well alone

[Robinia]

fishing, are you sure that it's a gleditsia & not a Robinia frisia? They're very similar...
gleditsia

robinia

Over the past few years robinias have been mysteriously dying and to the best of my knowledge there's no diagnosis or solution to the problem yet. It's a real shame, they're beautiful trees, my own is now looking sick & has been losing leaves since they opened and I'll be very sorry if it dies.....hopefully though she's a tough old survivor, like me! :o)

some info here

[fishing81]

thanks robinia will check that out and make that another tough old survivor

[fishing81]

info was interesting one other point is this tree has a sharp thorn if that helps to tell the difference

[Robinia]

Well they both have thorns although looking into it it seems like gleditsia would be described as spiny & robinia as thorny (they're short but oh so sharp when they scratch your scalp!). Robinias are very brittle & there are often twiggy branches beneath it that have snapped off, as do the bigger ones in very bad weather. They're both the same family too so it could be that this mystery disease is spreading to all of them. Either way, it's looking like there's no prevention or cure at the moment & if mine dies I doubt I'll plant another tree....I'll be in my twighlight zone by the time it's matured...in fact some think I'm already there!

[fishing81]

oh bless,you haven't lost your marbles yet by your answers,thanks for all your input robinia