Lilac tree problem

[Kazzawazza]

We have a lilac tree on the patio that grows really well every year. However, last year in June, our neighbour decided to cut the tree back 3 feet + onto our land whilst we were away on holiday and without our permission. He also did this to 2 of our other trees, none of which were over his side of the boundary line. 

This year the lilac tree hasn’t grown at all. At the start of the season, one half of the tree started to grow a few leaves, but over the past few weeks they have now died back. Is the tree diseased or is it dead? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve attached an image of the tree as it usually looks each year and 2 of how it looks now.

 

 

[Dan Maynard]

It doesn't look well.

 

Once the bark is flaking off all over a branch, that branch is dead and won't come back. If all the branches we can see are dead then it may be game up for the tree. This year it would be hard to entirely rule out drought stress.

[Kazzawazza]

Until the beginning of July it looked like this, then in a matter of a few weeks the green leaves just withered and went brown. 

 

What do you suggest we do with the tree?

[Patrick goulding]

I’d try feeding and watering see if that can give it a new lease of life. Should that fail cut it down and plant a new one. Mabie your neighbour’s will put there hand in there pockets for a new one. 👍 

[Paul in the woods]

I don't think having a patio so close to the tree helps and I've had a lilac tree did on me. However, is there a chance it's had weed killer sprayed on it or something similar? 

[Kazzawazza]

11 hours ago, Paul in the woods said:

I don't think having a patio so close to the tree helps and I've had a lilac tree did on me. However, is there a chance it's had weed killer sprayed on it or something similar? 

As we have a nuisance neighbour next door and have had all sorts of issues with him over the years, my initial thought when the tree didn’t grow this year was that he’s put weed killer on the roots as we reported him to the police for criminal damage last year.  This would very easy for him to do from his side of the fence, as it would run underneath the fence onto the roots, also there would be no evidence.
 

A copper nail was another thought?  The thing I find strange though is that half the tree grew back but half didn’t.  The side that didn’t is next to a dual patio apple tree which started to grow but then stopped and the leaves went brown on parts of them and the apples grew no bigger than 2”. Could the trees have some form of wilt?  The leaves on the other half, seemed to die over a period of 3 weeks or so during July - the same month temperatures hit 40 degrees.  There are an odd few leaves further up the tree that are still alive with brown patches on them.  I was going to scrap a couple of the branches to see if they are dead or have any other colouring through them.

[Kazzawazza]

11 hours ago, Patrick goulding said:

I’d try feeding and watering see if that can give it a new lease of life. Should that fail cut it down and plant a new one. Mabie your neighbour’s will put there hand in there pockets for a new one. 👍 

I’ve been watering the tree every 2 or 3 days over the past month or so but not I’m sure what to feed at this time of the year and how often.

 

From what I understand lilac trees have shallow roots so it would be easy to get the tree out, grind the roots and get another 2m/3m  lilac tree in there, which is what we intend to do if the tree is definitely dead.  My only concern here though is if the neighbour has killed the tree intentionally, then he could do it again.

[rapalaman]

Whatever course of action you take, get a camera installed to keep a check on him 👍

[Kazzawazza]

50 minutes ago, rapalaman said:

Whatever course of action you take, get a camera installed to keep a check on him 👍

I’m currently looking for CCTV 👍

[Patrick goulding]

2 hours ago, Kazzawazza said:

I’ve been watering the tree every 2 or 3 days over the past month or so but not I’m sure what to feed at this time of the year and how often.

 

From what I understand lilac trees have shallow roots so it would be easy to get the tree out, grind the roots and get another 2m/3m  lilac tree in there, which is what we intend to do if the tree is definitely dead.  My only concern here though is if the neighbour has killed the tree intentionally, then he could do it again.

Only other thing is try to keep the new tree at a certain size what won’t upset your neighbour and drive them to being funny. I know you shouldn’t have to do that but lot of funny folks now days.