Can this tree be saved?

[Melanie]

This tree in our backyard is not doing well. Here's the picture of the tree:

Here's a closeup:

What kind of tree is it? Is there a chance of this tree ever looking good again or we should just cut it down? It looked like this for the past 2 summers. We are in Illinois Zone 5.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Chuck]

If it has looked like that for 2 years and not getting better what have you got to lose by removing it? Or just cutting it down to almost ground level and see if it will send up new shoots

 

[Beth_B]

Do you have a close-up of the leaves, showing the shape?
Maybe call a tree service, local tree guys & gals will identify it for you and be able to give you an assessment. The tree service I use sends out an arborist to discuss what you want done, it's part of their free estimate. I'm not suggesting you call for an estimate just to get free advice; that wouldn't be fair. But if you're willing to spend a few hundred bucks to care for it, that's an option. Or take a twig with some leaves to your local nursery (NOT a big box store) and ask them.

 

[Sheal]

There looks to be a dark patch in the middle of the stump where a branch has been removed, on the right side of the picture. Any chance of a close up shot of that please because it could be fire blight. Also, is there any shedding of bark or weeping wounds anywhere.

 

[InvasiveCreeper]

Scrape a branch lightly and look for green underneath.

Also watch for buds.

Call an arborist, like Beth mentioned, before taking any drastic measures.

 

[Marck]

Greetings, welcome to the Forums.

This tree appears to be an old specimen of a Lion's Mane Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'). Some of its odd appearance would be explained by this. However, even still, this doesn't look like a healthy specimen. There seems to be some evidence that it has already been badly pruned and there might be issues with drainage, soil compaction, and root damage as well. It would have been good to see more photos of the tree's entire canopy, as well as close-up shots of the leaves.