Do you know what kind of tree it is?

Its a nice looking tree. It apparently suffered some dieback.

I don't know the first thing about trees the leafs turn purple in the fall. I appreciate the help. I have another one just like it I planted them at the same time they are about 40 feet apart they grew different the one that has the problem grew bigger and faster

like children.. you cant really compare one to the other.. they will do their own thing ...

there is an ash called autumn purple ... i cut all mine down due to emerald ash borer ...be nice to know where you are.. and if thats an issue..

you have a lot of lawn there .. if they are ash ... you ought to be planting some other type of trees.. in the fall planting season ... in case these have to go ...

if you can get over your fear of the tree.. and actually get us some pix of the leaves.. it can probably be IDd ...

ken

Thanks for the response Ken. I live in Ogden, Utah I don't know much about Trees and wondering if I should cut that branch out and how to do it ? I feel I should probably take some of the lower branches off so you can walk under the tree but they are about 3/4" big. Will it hurt the tree and do I cut them on and angle ? Feeling pretty stupid but learning Thanks Click on Link

http://s1029.photobucket.com/user/Fixing65Caliente/slideshow/Trees

this is obviously some type of ash, for now I would remove the dead (even though it is the leader) a new leader will typically grow back in it's place (cut off all but the strongest of the new growth/watersprouts) to form the new leader, this is how we fix butchered crepe myrtles

Those are likely Autumn Purple white ash (the variety Ken mentioned above). AFAIK, EAB hasn't been confirmed in Utah yet, but it has been found in CO (Boulder area), so it may show up in Utah before long. There are also other borers besides EAB that attack ash.

This link http://www.coloradotrees.org/feature_trees/ash_autpur.php indicates there are some potential issues with Autumn Purple in your region: "This tree can have many problems if poorly cared for. It is susceptible to: Cankers, Lilac/ash borer, carpenter worms, and ash flower gall. Recently, the ash sawfly has become a big problem on Autumn purple ash up and down the Front Range of Colorado, chewing leaves in May and June. Ash borer is a big problem in Colorado where ash trees grow."

Your trees look like they may have cankers or borers (or both). You could prune the dead out as Caldwell suggested, keep them watered and fertilized, and hope for the best. Or remove them and plant something that's better adapted to your area.

Google Emerald Ash Borer. Try to guess its ETA to the Salt Lake region and decide what you want to do.

My vote is for planting a possible replacement for the "sick" tree nearby. EAB may not like dry mountains. Or it may come kill every non treated ash in Utah.

Yes indeedy-'Autumn Purple'-a cultivar of white ash. The poor structure apparent in this specimen is replicated by the thousands in white ash production. They all "come that way" due to terrible nursery production practices, namely, the wanton and utterly unneeded practice of topping "to make the tree bush out" or some such nonsense. What is or would have been the central leader is invariably strangled by this practice. Note: Dead wood can be removed any time the saw is sharp-like today. Your being way out west, EAB is not likely to be a concern for a long time to come. Get that dead stuff out of there and then maybe a decent tree can be beaten out of this thing. So much stupid practice remains the norm in today's production nurseries. This is an excellent example of same.

Thank you for all the comments. But I am learning is it okay just to cut it out straight or on and angle ? What is the best way ? Don't want to hurt the tree any more than it is.

to form the new leader (the directions I mentioned above) cut it out straight. if you don't want any new growth cut at an angle, neither will hurt the tree.

The above comment is nonsense, plain and simple. Cory, cut it out in whatever manner you are able, so as to A) Leave as little of a stub as possible, and B) in such a manner that you scuff up the remaining leaders as little as possible. All else is BS. Get that dead out of there and don't worry about it. Now, if you want to learn about leader training, subordination pruning, and other salient points, I or we will be happy to comply. but that's all for after that dead middle leader is gone.

There is a CHANCE since I think Utah is out of the native range of Fraxinus family ash trees and is a bit arid EAB won't establish there.

I discount distance and native range of ash limititations as EAB is not native to this WHOLE hemisphere and it is here and because folks like me and you plant non native trees like ash all around Colorado and Utah

Now, to plan for a decade down the road when these trees will be about the max size I like to remove myself anymore you should study EAB's native range and make a guess if in 10, 15, 20 or however many years it concerns you EAB will be there and if being treeless or treating these ash continually for the rest of our lives on a maybe it is worth it. It is here.

Thank you everybody for the help. I went out tonight too cut out the dead branch and notice some holes in the branch with no leaves WOW looks like worm holes you would see in and apple. I think I am going to cut out the bad branch and try to treat it with https://www.amazon.com/Acecap-25-Pack-Systemic-Insecticide-Implants/dp/B00DQUUSJ4/ref=pd_sim_86_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=512IaOavbML&dpSrc=sims&preST=AC_UL160_SR130%2C160&refRID=05TCMG6QCV6SBKYSJ9CD   or

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ARKS5QO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1KFCLDE3ZSVZA&coliid=I1DJADLHYLATQ8   

The problem with the second one is I have a dog is there anything better that I could use and not have to worry about pets ? I also notice everywhere there is a hole the tree looks bad yellow color

well, most trees are healthier and prettier if they have a leader, but if you simply don't care about the leader growing back at all, then wisconsitom is right

No.

Thanks for the help. So I understand about cutting out the leader but what about the trunk it looks like there is a worm hole in it. How should I treat it ?

Tom:

I'd like to comment on your comment of the despicable practices nurseries engage in but I don't want to hijack this thread. Maybe start a new one? You go first LOL.

Doesn't look good cory. that's an exit hole...or holes, actually, of some kind of borer. It's not emerals ash borer, which is on the tips of everyone's tongues right now, but in general, borers are serious pests, as they tunnel around in the cambium-the larval stage that is-and decimate the sap-conducting vessels within. Wish i could get that photo to blow up. Can't quite tell what I'm looking at there. But very generally, borers are literally attracted to stressed trees, EAB excepted. That thing has no problem destroying a perfectly healthy ash tree. But that ain't this.

Here is one more

Okay this was not a worm but I took some needle nose inside the hole on the trunk and found some dead skin of a worm. Going with plan A keep you informed thanks for all the help.

That "skin" looks like the pupal skin of the ash/lilac borer, see photo near the bottom of this page -

http://www.forestpests.org/vd/8926.html

See also this publication under ash/lilac borer -

http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/ec1580.pdf

I think sprays are recommended when the adult moths are active. Not sure if imidacloprid will be effective against the larvae in the tree.

Thanks you for the help. I have decided to go with plan A cut out the dead branch and drenched the tree. We will see what happens time will tell. I hate to loose the tree. I appreciate all the help and I will do things different if I have to plant a new tree