not many trees or shrubs.. die.. cut from cutting back... even if the tree above dies... with a huge root mass.. it might just all grow back ...

but i find it very surprising.. a tree of that size and age died back to the ground ... are you sure it the tree itself???

if you want to cut it down ... get a folding trees saw ... and cut it down to the ground.. and presuming it is something you want dead.. apply a stump killer to every cut ... make sure its not the other hammock tree.. eh???

trust me... the right tool.. makes the job rather easy.. so invest enough.. to do so ....

and... plant a new tree .. as a dead tree will rot .. and fall down.. especially with the available water ... hopefully you arent in the hammock.. when it falls ... yikes ..

ken

how much you want to spend on it.. depends on whether you figure you will ever use it again ... in other words.. most of us dont need a $100 professional version ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=folding+trees+saw&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

btw.. it can be IDd here.. but the mystics might need a better pic of the leaves ...

and the same logic for hand shears ... for a smallish investment.. you can get a much better tool than a dollar store version ...

also.. for future reference.. there is a shrub and a tree forum ... whatever this stuff is.. i doubt its a perennial ...

ken