An amur maple would be a good choice, but maybe give the mountain ash another year before you get out the saw.

Thanks, Don! The only thing is, the 2 year warranty runs out now, so if I wait for another year and it does not make it then, I will have lost over $400! Otherwise I might want to wait.
. Thanks again!

I'm far from an expert, and maybe someone else can comment on what I'm going to say :) Have you tried iron chelate?

My Amur Maple isn't doing as well as last year, and I suspect it's all the rain. I'm with Don. I'd keep it another year, give it iron, and see what happens.

If you do decide you need another tree, how about a Nannyberry?

Oops. Didn't see the warranty issue as I was writing.

Dogwoods love moisture - how about a Pagoda Dogwood? I moved mine to a low area that is consistently moist and it is thriving. If you look on the 'net, you can see examples of it grown into a small tree form.

My amur maples are incredible this year, very healthy, almost too much so since they seed themselves all over. If a tree is languishing in one location, chances are they never "settle in" after a time, best move it when it is young.

My neighbour had an amur cherry (maackia) in a wet area and it had the yellowing leaves; she moved it into a large pot and it overwintered! It got replanted in a drier location the following Spring and is doing well now.

Oh! I need to read up on Nanny berry. Thanks!

Donna, a Pagoda Dogwood would be wonderful, but I did not know that it was hardy for our climate! Does it require any special protection or anything like that please?

Thanks again!

If you're interested in the nannyberry, there's a thread called :
Anybody have a Tree Form Nannyberry?

North53 posted an awesome picture.

Pagoda Dogwood likes moist acidic soil and afternoon shade or part shade. I have 2 that are planted where there was a caragana hedge, they have come through 2 winters and have had some die back. They are looking good so far but are only 3 ft. tall. The deer like to eat them just like other Dogwoods'.

Dogwoods are understory trees and must be sited with that in mind. Morning sun is fine in cooler climes but afternoon sun will burn them to a crisp.

Linda

I have a red osier dogwood, a variegated dogwood and a Pagoda dogwood...none of them planted in a lot of shade. I have never had any issues with dieback in the winter nor leaves burning due to too much sun in the summer. The first two don't even get all that much moisture and they all do well in my zone 2b garden (they are grown more as shrubs).

The Pagoda dogwood was originally planted near a crabapple and it was too shady and dry, languished there for years, finally moved it a couple years ago and it has been doing great.

I have a variegated as well in full sun and no issues with it. There's a red osier that grew where one of my Nanking cherries had been and it certainly has no problems with anything. I've hacked at that thing mercilessly and it still flings out new growth by the minute!

Thanks, everyone! Donna, thanks for sharing your experience with the Pagoda Dogwood! I actually also have a dogwood shrub (Elegantissima) near this area, with very similar light exposure. The Elegantissima is doing very well there, so I suspect that if I did get a Pagoda Dogwood, then it may be OK.

Anyway, I went to the local nursery today and got a price credit for the poor Showy Mountain Ash. Since I got the credit, if I want to keep this tree, it is OK! So perhaps I should just keep it for another season.... what do you think?

Otherwise, I saw the following there that should work well for this area:

- Amur Maple tree form
- Amur Maple clump - I think this is lovely!
- Pagoda Dogwood - but it is tiny in a small pot only
- Tartarian Maple Hot Wings (in a pot)
- Tartarian Maple Rugged Beauty (caliper size)
- Ohio Buckeye

The tree guy there suggested that I might consider an Ohio Buckeye. Now, this one does have some interesting leaves!

If I don't keep the tree, then I am leaning towards the Amur Maple clump or the Ohio Buckeye. What do you think? I should probably check out the other nurseries too...

Thanks again!