some adverse reaction to moving a huge tree ...

it needs to regrow the root mass ... before it gets back to growing to specs ... and your expectations ...

we really dont care about leaf problems ... any part still green is converting sun into energy for the tree to regrow the roots lost ...

is this some attempt to block the view from an elevated deck ... i cant think why else you planted it so close to the house ...

ken

Thanks Ken. It was initially planted last year from balled/burlap but I noticed the hole was creating a sump which was not ideal, so moved it about 2 months after planting. I'm not worried about the leaves but I'm worried that it has deteriorated since purchasing it don't want the black branches to spread. If it just needs time, no problem...

Attached is a picture of it last year at this time.

I wouldn't worry about the black spots. They are lenticels or pores on the stems and all European hornbeams have them. They are just black on the stems or branches that have died. And I suspect any dieback was due to a compromised rootball (typical with any B&B) and not enough time to re-establish before winter cold set in.

European hornbeams tend to be pretty much problem free trees overall :-)