Can this tree survive?

[Rachel M. W.]

We have  young ash we bought from a nursery about 3 years ago. It wasn't doing well after the first year, and we couldn't figure out why. Eventually we realized it was because the nursery had it tied to a stake when they planted it, and it never occurred to us to remove it (really stupid of us, but it was our first young tree). After removing the stake, we saw that the trunk had buckled on that side and was dead. Consequently, about a third or more of the tree's branches were also dead. The rest of the trunk (maybe 1/2 to 2/3) remains green and it has two large branches that are still growing. But overall, the tree has been in a sorry state without much growth for the past year. I've attached some pictures. Can this tree come back from this or are we just prolonging its eventual death? Thanks for your input!

Edited October 10, 2018 by Rachel M. W.
Better picture

[openspaceman]

17 minutes ago, Rachel M. W. said:

We have  young ash we bought from a nursery about 3 years ago. It wasn't doing well after the first year, and we couldn't figure out why. Eventually we realized it was because the nursery had it tied to a stake when they planted it, and it never occurred to us to remove it (really stupid of us, but it was our first young tree). After removing the stake, we saw that the trunk had buckled on that side and was dead. Consequently, about a third or more of the tree's branches were also dead. The rest of the trunk (maybe 1/2 to 2/3) remains green and it has two large branches that are still growing. But overall, the tree has been in a sorry state without much growth for the past year. I've attached some pictures. Can this tree come back from this or are we just prolonging its eventual death? Thanks for your input!

Where are you and why have the trees in the background lost their foliage.

 

I suspect the problem is something more than damage caused by the stake. If that tree were in SE England I'd say it was diseased.

[Rachel M. W.]

Sorry, that second pic of the tree is against a background of my neighbors' dead trees. I've included a better pic to give you an idea of the foliage. I live in Southern California. Thanks!

[Chris at eden]

Southern California, so dry and hot I am guessing?  Have you been watering it during establishment? 

 

[Rachel M. W.]

Yes, I believe we're giving it plenty of water (it is dry and hot!), and we try to keep up with fertilizing. However, another of its main branches has just died regardless of our efforts. My husband thinks we're just prolonging the inevitable, but I don't want to give up on it unless I'm sure it can't make it.